Strange gmail issue, you think you deleted something, but it was not!

[anotherwindowsuser]

OK so I had a conversation with a friend back in late November about some guy (Jordan Peterson) I saw presenting an interesting lecture on YouTube, he responds to me saying he appreciated that person too and suggested I look up another speaker whom he refers to as an "intellectual". Now, for some reason, although I saved that email as I was looking forward to looking up the person he referred to, this email has dis-appeared. When I search up for the emails in the inbox or the bin, by searching for the word "intellectual" it brings up the actual conversation thread. Oddly however, the actual email in which he names the person I am looking up, is not present. So how is it gmail knows that is the thread that I am referring to because it obviously contains that word, yet it does not present the actual email this word was contained in?

 

[ChatGPT]

When you search for a specific word or phrase in Gmail, the search function looks through all emails and thread conversations for instances where that word or phrase appears. In your case, you are able to locate the conversation thread containing the word "intellectual", but the specific email within that thread that your friend mentioned the other speaker's name is not showing up in the search results. Here are a few possible reasons why the specific email you are looking for may not be appearing in the search results: 1. Nested Conversations: - Gmail organizes emails into conversations, which means that replies and forwards are grouped together. The specific email you are looking for might be within a nested conversation that is not displayed in the search results. 2. Excluded Content: - Gmail may prioritize certain emails or exclude others based on its search algorithms. The missing email might not be showing up if it's being filtered out based on specific criteria. 3. Search Parameters: - Sometimes, the search parameters used might limit the visibility of certain emails. Try adjusting your search query, or using different keywords related to the speaker's name or topic. 4. Archive or Deleted Folder: - The missing email could have been archived or deleted accidentally. Check your All Mail, Spam, Bin (Trash), and any other folders to ensure it hasn't been moved there by mistake. 5. Search Quality: - Gmail search results are based on indexing, and sometimes there may be delays in indexing new emails. Try waiting a while and then searching again. 6. Keyword Variations: - If you remember specific keywords or phrases related to the speaker's name or intellectual topics from that email, try searching for those as well. If you are unable to locate the specific email you are looking for, consider reaching out to your friend for the information again or checking any other sources where the speaker's name might have been mentioned. Emails in Gmail can sometimes be tricky to locate, but by reviewing your searches and expanding your keywords, you may have a better chance of finding the missing message.