Intro
Create a reusable filter for very similar intent families when you want to find query groups that may be served by duplicate or overlapping pages.
Use this regex to organise duplicate-intent reviews in GSC by grouping common informational and evaluative formats that often overlap across content.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
()
Parentheses group terms together so GSC treats them as one unit. That is what lets one regex cover several query variants in a single filter.
|
The pipe means OR. GSC will match any term on either side of the pipe, which is useful for variants, modifiers, or alternative phrases.
\b
Backslash-b marks a word boundary. It helps stop short terms from matching inside longer words in GSC queries.
GSC regex is case-insensitive by default, so capital letters do not need separate variants. GSC also uses partial matching by default, so the regex can match part of a longer query unless you anchor it with ^ or $.
What This Regex Does
- Matches common modifiers that can produce closely related query intent.
- Supports duplicate-intent reviews across similar content formats.
- Helps you compare whether multiple pages compete for the same type of query.
What it does not match
- title tag comparison - Comparison only matches in the variation.
- title tag checker free - No grouped duplicate-intent modifier appears.
Edge Cases
- Different modifiers can still serve the same user need, so regex is only the grouping tool.
- This segment is most effective when paired with page-level overlap analysis.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| how to write title tags | Match | Contains how to, which often overlaps with guide and tutorial pages. |
| best title tag tools | Match | Contains best, which can overlap with reviews and comparison pages. |
| title tag comparison | No | Comparison only matches in the variation. |
| title tag checker free | No | No grouped duplicate-intent modifier appears. |
How to Use This in Google Search Console
- Open Performance and review the Queries tab alongside Pages.
- Add a Query filter with Custom (regex).
- Paste the regex and click Apply.
- Compare matching queries against the pages that win impressions and clicks.
When to Use This
- Review whether multiple pages target the same query style.
- Find overlapping editorial and commercial content formats.
- Support consolidation or page-differentiation decisions.
Pro Tips
- Duplicate intent is about overlap in user need, not just similar wording.
- Compare headings, titles, and landing pages once the query slice is filtered.
- Guide and tutorial often look different structurally but still compete for the same searches.
- Use exports when multiple pages appear in the same filtered query set.
Variations
Include comparison intent
Broadens the duplicate-intent review set with another overlapping content format.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for Keyword Cannibalisation Patterns
Use this regex as a practical cannibalisation review slice when similar modifiers are spread across multiple pages and need comparison.
Regex for Overlapping Keywords
Use this regex to isolate overlapping keyword families in GSC when you want to review how related modifier sets distribute across pages.
CTA
Regex is only the first step. The real bottleneck is turning manual filters into a repeatable workflow your team actually uses. Spicy Metrics helps you move from ad hoc filtering to operational SEO workflows.
Move beyond manual regex work