Bing search operators do not function properly, or work in ways that are unexpected, and sometimes outright conflict with their intended use.

Question

This is pretty self-explanatory, but some of Bing's search operators, specifically using the - to remove certain terms from search (as this operator was intended - see the instructions here for explanation of the "-" operator).

I f the operator "-" doesn't RELIABLY and PREDICTABLEY work in practice, and is so easily broken that it's essentially non-functional, or does the opposite of what it is intended to do, why is it even included or suggested for Bing search?

To replicate this strange behavior, simply search for something in Bing, and use the "-" operator to omit a term from the search (not this applies to most Bing operators, I'm just singling out "-" because it's reliably broken). One of a few things will probably happen:

1. You will get the term included in the search results anyway, even though you used "-" as suggested.
2. You will get search results with the term prioritized over other results.
3. If you're extremely lucky, it might work for a minority of searches, though this is extremely rare.

Example screenshot:

I want to use Bing search, I really do, but I have to use Google instead of Bing search because Google's search operators work as expected every time, all the time, reliably.

Answer 1

I think search operators/arguments/whatever not working right was an issue since the start. Bing search does have its strengths. Both Google and Microsoft have gone way overboard on being advertisement companies and have made web searching needlessly more difficult as a result of the changes they have been making over the years.

With Microsoft's Windows apps nearly all being sluggish bloatware these days, I tend to get rid of as much as I can. Thank God the Almighty Father that we are spoiled for choice on much better, 3rd party alternatives, and thanks to the people that make alternatives available, and plenty of it is freeware to boot.

No one needs to force themselves to use Edge if they do not want to or get put off by Microsoft's asinine practices. There is no valid excuse.