Google refines Search every year, training its algorithms to understand language and context to help you find exactly what you're looking for online. However, Google will, on occasion, fail. And now, rather than leave you in the dark, it's going to admit its failings.

Google Admits That Search Is Fallible

In a post on The Keyword, Google details how it's now going to admit defeat on certain web searches. On the very few occasions that Google fails to deliver solid results, you'll now see, "It looks like there aren't any great matches for your search".

This message will be accompanied by some tips to help you further refine your search. The idea being that by providing more (and clearer) information, Google will be able to turn its failures into successes. It will even provide alternative search terms to try.

Google will obviously also still provide results, and it's up to you whether or not you use them. It's just that the company will be admitting upfront that they may not deliver what you were looking for. Potentially saving you from time-consuming disappointment.

Google is keen to point out that it already employs several methods to avoid this happening. As an example, if you spell something incorrectly, Google Search will detect the misspelling and provide results for the words and phrases it thinks you meant to type.

To be fair, Google is usually brilliant at helping you find what you're looking for on the web. Which means you're unlikely to ever see this message. However, on the odd occasion that Google cannot provide solid results, it's nice to know that Google will admit as much.

If Google does let you down, here's how to find anything and everything using Google Search. And if you want even more ways to find what you're looking for on the web, be sure to check out our Google Search cheat sheet packed full of tips and tricks.