How to Use Google Scholar
Updated November 6, 2026
To use Google Scholar, go to scholar.google.com and type your keywords. Then use the date filter on the left and the “Cited by” links under each result to find what you need. Before you start, link it to your college library so you can open more full-text articles.
Searching is free, and you don’t need an account.
What is Google Scholar?
Google Scholar is a free search engine for scholarly writing. Its About page says it covers articles, theses, books, abstracts, and court opinions. These come from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, and universities.
It ranks results by looking at the full text, where the work was published, who wrote it, and how often and how recently others cited it. So older papers with lots of citations often land near the top. If you need new work, use the date filter.
Not everything in Scholar is peer reviewed, and Scholar has no peer-review filter. You’ll need to check each source yourself.
Step 1: Link your college library
Do this first. It takes about a minute, and it gets you more full-text links.
- Open Google Scholar.
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Click Library links.
- Search for your college and check the box next to it.
- Click Save.
You can add up to five libraries. Now you’ll see links like “FindIt@Harvard” next to results your library can open. The label depends on your school. If you’re off campus, you may need to log in with your student account after you click.
Step 2: Search with the right words
Use keywords, not full sentences. Put phrases in quotation marks.
| To find | Type this |
|---|---|
| An exact phrase | "sleep quality" college students |
| A paper you know | "The Spread of True and False News Online" |
| Papers by an author | author:"sam wineburg" |
Start broad, then add words if you get too many results. A search with two or three keywords often works better than one with six.
For more control, open Advanced search from the same menu. It lets you search by words, author, publication, and date.
Step 3: Read the results page
Each result packs in a lot. Here’s what the parts do:
| Part of the result | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title | Opens the page where Scholar found the work |
| Line under the title | Shows the authors, source, and year |
| [PDF] or [HTML] link on the right | Opens a copy you can read |
| Library link, such as FindIt | Opens the paper through your school |
| Save | Adds the paper to My library |
| Cite | Shows the citation in common styles |
| Cited by | Lists newer work that cites the paper |
| Related articles | Finds similar papers |
| All versions | Shows other copies of the same paper |
A result marked [CITATION] has no online copy in Scholar. It often comes from other papers’ reference lists. Search the title on your library’s website.
Step 4: Filter by date
On the left side of the results, choose a “Since” year. You’ll see recent work, still ranked by relevance. You can also set a custom range.
“Sort by date” is different. It puts the newest additions first, so you can see what just came out.
Step 5: Use “Cited by” to move forward
“Cited by” may be the most useful link on the page. Click it to see newer papers that reference the one you found.
Scholar’s help page offers a good tip here. A paper’s reference list tends to be more general, while “Cited by” leads to newer and more specific work. Use both when you’re building your source list.
Step 6: Get the full text
If you hit a paywall, don’t pay. Try these in order:
- Click the [PDF] or library link, if there is one.
- Click “All versions” to look for a free copy.
- Search the title on your library’s website.
- Ask your library about interlibrary loan.
Copies on personal or school sites are sometimes early drafts. Compare them with the published version before you quote or cite page numbers.
Step 7: Save papers and set alerts
Click Save under a result to add it to My library. Once it’s there, you can sort papers with labels, one for each class or project.
For a longer project, set an alert. Search your topic, click the envelope icon, and enter your email address. Scholar will send you new results.
Be careful with the Cite button
Click Cite and Scholar shows a citation in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and Vancouver styles. It’s a fast start, but these citations can have errors, especially in capitalization. Compare each one with the paper before you use it.
Finding a title in Scholar doesn’t prove every detail is right, either. If a reference looks odd, here’s how to check if a citation is real.
When to use a library database instead
Scholar is great for a broad first look. Library databases give you tighter control, with peer-review filters and subject terms. For most papers, you’ll want both.
See our guide on searching library databases, plus these other places to find sources. If you’re stuck for search terms, try the free source finder from Sourcefox.
Common questions
Is Google Scholar free?
Yes. Searching is free. Some articles sit behind publisher paywalls, but you can often get them through your college library.
Is everything on Google Scholar peer reviewed?
No. Results can include theses, books, and abstracts that never went through a journal’s peer review. If your professor requires peer-reviewed sources, check the journal’s website or use a library database filter.
Can I use Google Scholar for my research paper?
Yes, as a place to search. In your paper, you cite the article or book you found. You don’t cite Google Scholar itself.