Google is always looking for ways to help make our searches quicker or easier. For example, autocomplete helps us to type out our query faster and get straight to the results.
Autocomplete is based on frequently made searches, although other factors also play a part, such as a user’s search history and location, as well as trending searches and the freshness of the topic. That’s what makes some of these suggestions funny, weird or just downright confusing.
Autocomplete doesn’t always get things right, and the consequences of that can really be something to behold. To showcase this, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest search predictions produced by Google.
- Why isn’t 11 pronounced onety one
It’s a logical question when you think about it, and clearly enough people have been thinking the same thing for it to appear as a suggested search term on Google. Whatever the reason, it’s probably for the best that we went for eleven. I’m not sure our language would be taken seriously if it included “onety one”.
- Why can’t I own a Canadian
While the onety one suggestion sounds rational, we really can’t say the same for this one given all of the obvious moral implications involved.
Luckily, the reason this comes up as a suggested term is actually because the phrase is associated with a satirical letter that was once sent to a radio personality. It then snowballed and became a viral meme when people noticed the phrase appearing as a Google suggestion.
- Help I’m a prisoner in a Chinese bakery
A bleak and damning search suggestion on the face of it, implying that people turned to Google when faced with this unlikely, but perilous situation. The explanation behind this one is that it’s the title of a comedy book released in the 60s. It’s the same reason for the “help I’m a prisoner in a toothpaste factory” suggestion a bit further up, too.
- Don’t you hate it when a sentence doesn’t end the way it octopus
Couldn’t agree more, I hate it when a sentence doesn’t end the way it octopus.
- Don’t you hate it when a chinchilla eats the universe
Same as the above, I can’t stand it when this happens. Some of these search suggestions really are relatable.
- Help I accidentally built a shelf
Google is the go-to option for most of us when we find ourselves in a bit of a predicament, but I don’t think many of us considered that this would even be possible. Yet, apparently, someone did actually ask this question on Yahoo Answers one day, stating they were trying to build something else and ended up with a shelf.
Users began to engage with the post, presumably because they couldn’t believe what they were reading, and it soon started gathering momentum. Eventually, the phrase became a meme and took on a life of its own. Enough people have now searched for it for Google to consider it suggestion-worthy. The internet really is a wacky place sometimes.
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