Exact Matches in Sentences counts how many times your exact target query appears inside substantive body sentences — sentences of at least four words. It returns a plain occurrence count, not a score, and a higher count relates to ranking position within a measured result set rather than causing it.
| Factor ID | RG-KWD-011 |
|---|---|
| Family | Keyword Usage & Density |
| Measurement | Exact-query occurrence count |
| Measured zone | Parsed body sentences containing at least four words |
What it measures
This factor counts exact-query pattern occurrences inside substantive sentences parsed from the page body. Rather than scanning the raw page or counting scattered words, it looks for the whole query phrase sitting intact within complete, meaningful sentences — the places where a phrase reads as deliberate wording instead of incidental overlap.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear parses sentences from the script-free body of the page, then keeps only sentences that contain at least four words. Within each retained sentence it looks for the query, but with the spaces between query words replaced by an optional single-character separator, so a small piece of punctuation between the words still counts. Matching is case-insensitive, and the matches found in every retained sentence are summed into a single total.
query = "seo audit tool"
pattern = seo.?audit.?tool (each query space -> optional single-char separator)
scope = body sentences with >= 4 words (script content removed)
count = case-insensitive matches, summed across all retained sentencesHow to optimize it
Use the exact phrase naturally in complete, informative sentences where it genuinely improves clarity and directly supports the page topic. Treat the number as an observation of how your wording reads, not a target to inflate — write the sentence you would write for a reader, and let the exact phrase appear where it belongs.
Important considerations
- Short fragments and sentences under four words are excluded, so a phrase used only in headings, list stubs, or captions may not be counted.
- The optional single-character separator means a small piece of punctuation between query words can still register as a match.
- Multiple occurrences of the phrase within one sentence can each be counted.
- Exact phrasing should support the reader; repeating it to lift the count makes prose stilted and works against clarity.
- Correlation is not causation: this count tracks position within a measured result set and acts as a prioritization signal, never a guarantee that a page will rank.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.