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IIRC +x keeps google from returning results that exclude the x term.

e.g. "x y z" ~ "x y z" + "x y" + "y z" + "x z" + "x" + "y" + "z"

where "+x y +z" ~ "x y z" + "x z"

Still, I would imagine this isn't exactly the behavior your friend would have expected.

I was referring to the Google+ fiasco and how + is no longer an operator. Instead, now you have to "quote" "for" "inclusion".