Skip to content

Spelling, Synonyms and Languages in Store Search

Help shoppers find the same item when they misspell a word or use a different name. Correct cautiously, so an exact brand, model, or product identifier is never silently replaced with a different item.

About this path

Level
Intermediate
Reading time
About 4 minutes
Sections
3
Account needed
No

Written for store owners, builders, and designers refining high-performance ecommerce stores.

Foundation · 2 min

What you need to know

What is typo tolerance?

It allows small spelling mistakes to find likely matches. If a shopper types a slightly misspelled product name, the matching product can still appear, but the page should still show what matched and let the shopper change the query.

How should synonyms work?

A synonym links terms that mean the same thing in the store’s catalog. “Couch” and “sofa” may be useful equivalents for a furniture seller. Link two terms only when your products truly fit both descriptions.

What about plurals, abbreviations, and languages?

Test singular and plural forms, local terms, and common abbreviations from customer searches. For a multilingual store, check translated names and attributes with a fluent reviewer; a translated word can mean something else in a particular product context.

A simple check to try

Test a real misspelling, plural, and approved synonym. Confirm that the exact product code still returns only the matching item.

Foundation · 2 min

Frequently asked questions

Can a synonym create bad results?

Yes. A broad rule for “jar” might incorrectly include all containers. Review real searches and restrict rules where necessary.

Where are typo and synonym controls?

Check the current search documentation. Add only verified terms and test exact product names and identifiers after every change.

Ready for the next stage?

Continue through the Academy sequence to apply advanced optimization and scaling techniques.

Start Advanced techniques