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The Most Searched How-To Questions Per State in the Past Year
Years ago, the phrase "google it" would have been a pretty strange thing to say. Today, it seems completely normal. Not surprising since Google has become our go-to resource for almost everything, especially for doing and fixing things. For example, when the sink clogs up, most of us would google "how to unclog a sink" instead of "plumbers near me." Makes sense — why pay someone to do it when Google can teach you to DIY?
This is perhaps the reason for the increase in how-to searches over the years. According to Google News Lab data editor Simon Rogers, how-to searches have ballooned more than 140% since 2004, with people asking Google directions for various things, from boiling eggs to jumping cars.
Did you know?
“How to tie a tie?” has been the top-most searched how-to question in the United States for a year.
But what is most surprising is the top how-to search — how to tie a tie. Really? Who asks that?
Apparently, in the U.S. alone, people in 46 out of 51 states are asking Google the question. Roughly 90% of the Google searches in the United States for an entire year are about that piece of cloth worn around the neck. How to use a piece of fabric that serves no function, save for aesthetics, was the topic of Google searches 7787 times per month.
What's so important about tying a tie?
Many see the necktie as a formal accessory that conveys professionalism and authority. Some argue that ties cover the buttons in a man's shirt, which is why they are never worn with dress shirts, whose buttons are concealed. Some think ties are nothing but an attempt to feel superior and elicit undeserved respect. Others feel more confident about themselves when wearing a tie that complements their outfit.
While the jury is still out about ties, we know that more and more Americans want to learn how to tie a tie. More specifically, they want to know how to tie the following:
Necktie - A timeless fashion accessory, the necktie is known worldwide as a symbol of elegance and sophistication. It also helps keep your shirt collar in place.
Bow Tie - The bow tie is a fabric ribbon symmetrically knotted around the shirt collar so that the two opposing ends form loops. The three most common varieties are the pre-tied, clip-on, and self-tie
Bolo Tie. Also known as the Western Bowtie, bolo ties are typically worn with Western dress shirts and cowboy hats. It's a versatile and fashionable neckwear alternative to the traditional necktie and has been adopted by various subcultures, including cowboys, rockabilly enthusiasts, hippies, and country music artists.
Ascot & Cravat - The ascot and cravat are stylish alternatives to the necktie and can be worn for both formal and casual events.
These are the top five states where most “how to tie a tie” searches came from.
Texas
New York
Florida
Pennsylvania
Ohio
The Top 5: Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio
We don’t know precisely why these states yielded the highest “how to tie a tie” search query. What we do know is that these five are among the ten most populated US states. And while they vary in how strict their Covid restrictions are (Florida ranked as the 8th state with the most relaxed rules and New York placed 39th), they have all reopened around the same time.
We couldn’t help but ask: have men (and women) missed dressing up after the Covid lockdowns? Do they feel like they need to relearn the rudiments of dressing up and tying a tie after a year or so of working from home dressed in sweatpants, boxers, or their birthday suits? Based on the numbers, that seems to be the case, but your guess is as good as ours.
Other top searches
While 46 of the states were searching for “how to tie a tie”, these five states were searching for these:
how to get unbanned from omegle | New Jersey | 33,100/month |
how to pronounce | California | 27,100/month |
how to get rid of a sore throat | Georgia | 14,800/month |
how to delete an instagram account | South Carolina | 9,900/month |
how to screenshot on windows | Massachusetts | 8,100/month |
"How to get unbanned from omegle?" New Jerseyans are stereotyped as rude and unfriendly. While some residents are quick to defend that they are not rude — just different — from other states, we can't help but think that maybe the attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Otherwise, why would a video chat site ban them? Of course, we're assuming the worst. Maybe New Jersey peeps are just curious about Omegle, which is why this is NJ's most searched how-to question.
"How to pronounce?" California English is diverse. While the Californian accent isn't as distinguishable as Boston or Kansas accents, Californians have their own hella way of talking. Perhaps true-blue Californians want to know how their pronunciation of certain words compares with that of residents from other states.
"How to get rid of a sore throat?" Air quality in Georgia — specifically in Atlanta — averages 40 "code orange" days every year, which means that air quality can be unhealthy for sensitive groups. We surmise that people in these groups frequently suffer from sore throats, hence this question.
"How to delete an instagram account?" We don't know, but maybe people find it hard to post glamorous photos of themselves on Instagram when things don't seem fine and dandy for many South Carolina residents. Or they're probably just too much of a couch potato and can't be bothered to keep an IG account.
"How to screenshot on windows?" Although Massachusetts ranks first in scientific and technological capabilities, the state's tech sector faces a shortage of skilled workers due to people fleeing out of state. Those who remain probably need Google to help them solve daily tech-related problems, such as taking a screenshot of their Windows PCs.
Interesting Rising Queries
“How to play wordle?” The game, which started as a gift from creator Josh Wardle to his partner Palak Shah, has taken the interwebs by storm. Would the US be left behind? No siree, as evidenced by this rising query from 38 states. It has an average rise of 2257% from the 38 states, with Maine leading the pack with a 4150% rise.
“How to watch yellowstone?” Isn’t it weird that the most prominent cable series isn’t on the most popular streaming services? Small wonder people from 34 states are asking Google how they can watch the series, starting from season one.
“How to turn off iphone 13?” Nobody knows why the iPhone 13 does not have a power button. What gives, Apple? Surprisingly, this is a rising query in only 13 states.
“How to reset airpods?” As if the iPhone 13’s powering off fiasco isn’t enough, residents of 11 states also seem to be having issues with their airpods. Good thing Google is always to the rescue.
“How to stop coughing?” People aren’t as fearful of Covid-19 as they were when the pandemic started. But people in nine states are asking for ways to stop coughing which, as everyone knows, is a symptom of coronavirus infection. Could another wave be coming?
“How to cut a mango?” Mangoes are a tropical fruit, which means they don't grow in North America, except in tropical states such as Hawaii, Florida, and California. So we can’t blame why Americans don’t know how to cut a mango. But at least some people want to learn, as evidenced by this rising query in six states.
“How to fall asleep fast?” 33.33% of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Nobody seems alarmed, except for five states where this query has been rising.
“How to get a passport?” Covid-related travel restrictions are easing up, as borders begin opening. Unsurprisingly, 5 states are thinking about travelling again, which has prompted this query.
“How to get rid of a stuffy nose?” Stuffy noses are uncomfortable, and if we had them, we'd turn to Google too, just like the five states who ask this question.
“How to cook bacon in the oven?” There’s a new TikTok sensation — twisted bacon — which most likely prompted at least three states to head to Google for directions. But twisted or not, bacon IS bacon, and whatever way you cook it is good in our book.
“How to tell him i like him” & “How to be a better lover?” Many adults seem loveless in Louisiana. Could it be because they can’t tell the apple of their eye what their real feelings are? Do they feel like they don’t show their love enough? That seems to be the case and why Louisiana locals are googling these questions.
Top & Rising Queries of All US States
These are the five top & rising “how-to” questions in every US state:
State | Top searches | Average searches / month | Rising searches | Rise percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | how to tie a tie | 5,400 | how to play wordle | 1600% |
Alaska | how to tie a tie | 880 | how to cut a mango | 2350% |
Arizona | how to tie a tie | 9,900 | how to turn off iphone 13 | 1050% |
Arkansas | how to tie a tie | 2,900 | how to play wordle | 1650% |
California | how to pronounce | 27,100 | how to play wordle | 1900% |
Colorado | how to tie a tie | 9,900 | how to watch yellowstone season 4 | 1300% |
Connecticut | how to tie a tie | 5,400 | how to play wordle | 2700% |
Delaware | how to tie a tie | 1,300 | how to watch yellowstone | 2250% |
Florida | how to tie a tie | 27,100 | how to play wordle | 2450% |
Georgia | how to get rid of sore throat | 14,800 | how to create an nft | 300% |
Hawaii | how to tie a tie | 1,300 | how to play wordle | 2200% |
Idaho | how to tie a tie | 2,400 | how to watch yellowstone season 4 | 1550% |
Illinois | how to tie a tie | 18,100 | how to play wordle | 2400% |
Indiana | how to tie a tie | 9,900 | how to play wordle | 2100% |
Iowa | how to tie a tie | 4,400 | how to play wordle | 1850% |
Kansas | how to tie a tie | 3,600 | ||
Kentucky | how to tie a tie | 5,400 | how to play wordle | 2050% |
Louisiana | how to tie a tie | 5,400 | how to turn off iphone 13 | 2050% |
Maine | how to tie a tie | 1,900 | how to play wordle | 4150% |
Maryland | how to tie a tie | 8,100 | how to play wordle | 2000% |
Massachusetts | how to screenshot on windows | 8,100 | how to play wordle | 2300% |
Michigan | how to tie a tie | 14,800 | how to play wordle | 2500% |
Minnesota | how to tie a tie | 8,100 | how to play wordle | 2750% |
Mississippi | how to tie a tie | 2,900 | how to play wordle | 1250% |
Misouri | how to tie a tie | 8,100 | how to turn off iphone 13 | 1850% |
Montana | how to tie a tie | 1,300 | how to play wordle | 2200% |
Nebraska | how to tie a tie | 3,600 | how to watch euphoria | 650% |
Nevada | how to tie a tie | 4,400 | how to block spam calls on iphone | 350% |
New Hampshire | how to tie a tie | 1,900 | how to play wordle | 3700% |
New Jersey | how to get unbanned from omegle | 33,100 | how to play wordle | 2800% |
New Mexico | how to tie a tie | 2,400 | how to play wordle | 1800% |
New York | how to tie a tie | 27,100 | how to play wordle | 2350% |
North Carolina | how to tie a tie | 14,800 | how to play wordle | 2350% |
North Dakota | how to tie a tie | 1,000 | how to play wordle | 2850% |
Ohio | how to tie a tie | 18,100 | how to play wordle | 2150% |
Oklahoma | how to tie a tie | 4,400 | how to play wordle | 1850% |
Oregon | how to tie a tie | 5,400 | how to watch yellowstone season 4 | 1150% |
Pennsylvania | how to tie a tie | 22,200 | how to play wordle | 2600% |
Rhode Island | how to tie a tie | 1,600 | how to play wordle | 3650% |
South Carolina | how to delete an instagram account | 9,900 | how to play wordle | 2800% |
South Dakota | how to tie a tie | 1,000 | how to cook bacon in the oven | 1600% |
Tennessee | how to tie a tie | 8,100 | how to play wordle | 900% |
Texas | how to tie a tie | 40,500 | how to watch yellowstone | 130% |
Utah | how to tie a tie | 5,400 | how to play wordle | 1850% |
Vermont | how to tie a tie | 880 | how to play wordle | 3650% |
Virginia | how to tie a tie | 12,100 | how to play wordle | 2450% |
Washington | how to tie a tie | 9,900 | how to play wordle | 2450% |
West Virginia | how to tie a tie | 1,900 | how to break a fever | 2150% |
Wisconsin | how to tie a tie | 9,900 | how to turn off iphone 13 | 1500% |
Wyoming | how to tie a tie | 720 | how to watch yellowstone season 4 | 2100% |
Methodology
We used the search term “how to” on Google Trends and limited the results to the United States for the past 12 months (August 2021 to August 2022). We then exported the report from every US state according to the top and rising queries.
To get the exact number of times the query was searched in Google, we used Google’s Keyword Planner — which also gave us the search traffic of every query. We then imported the results into Google Sheets to organize the data and determine the top searches per US state.
To ensure accuracy in the result per state, we did not include searches that do not start with the phrase “how to.”