As an aside, also note the difference in number of results as you use each search engine. Even when using the tools below, there is little redundancy in the results, so use 2-3 search engines when doing research. They don't call it the World Wide Web for nothing. Reduce your results by limiting your search to the language of your choice. Available in AltaVista, FastSearch, HotBot and NorthernLight.
Phrase searching Using phrases is a sure way to produce relevant results.
You will get almost double the results if you enter the words without quotes. Available in AltaVista, FastSearch, Google, HotBot and NorthernLight. These operators are really Boolean at work but without the complexity. If your results absolutely must include a word or phrase, precede the word or phrase with a plus sign. If you want your results to exclude a word or phrase, precede the word or phrase with a minus sign.