Proximity functions allow you to narrow a search. A more narrow query means fewer matches and, thus, a smaller hit list. A more narrow search is also referred to as a tighter or more focused search. Phrase searching is implemented using various syntactical structures among different search engines. The longer a phrase, the more narrow the search.
Most search engines recognize quotation marks as the instruments for phrase searching.
Quotation marks are officially called 'phrase delimiters' or 'phrase switches', and define the contents of the phrase for the search engine. Some search engines use a syntax other than quotation marks. Here are some examples of phrase searching syntax acceptable for several popular search engines. This initial capitalization of adjacent names triggers the search engine to treat the words as a single name or title. Thus, White House, Kurt Vonnegut, Walter Cronkite, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are automatically treated as phrases by such search engines.