The organization of help files is initially confusing. Here's another case of truly useful information buried deep within a site. Though all the major search engines provide advanced search capabilities, help documentation varies dramatically in both scope and quality. Lycos provides the best combination of advanced search features and documentation. The other search services could improve their help files and documentation through better organization, visibility, and distinction between help for searchers and help for Webmasters.
All search engines have different strengths and weaknesses.
Librarian Debbie Abilock has prepared a table that helps you match the best search engine with each specific kind of query. Somewhat dated, though still highly relevant. Compiled for I-Search, AudetteMedia mailing list focusing on Web search engine optimization. Useful to the searcher for understanding how relevance rankings are generated, and how Webmasters can influence search results by manipulating certain HTML data fields. The author maintains this regularly updated list of annotated links to the best sources of Web search information on the Internet.