Yuvraj Chandra at MakeUseOf shared a cheat sheet of Google search operators that can be used to narrow down search results. It includes commands to help users filter results by site, timelines, and context. The cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from the webpage.

I use the following search operators on a daily basis:

Purpose Syntax Example
Excludes search results that include this term. [term 1] -[term 2] best tablets -drawing
Returns search results that include all terms within quotes in the exact given order. “[term]” “never gonna give you up”
Returns only search results that match a particular file extension. [term] filetype:[format] sleep study filetype:pdf

Students who know how to use search engine operators can save time and find the information they need more quickly. For example, a student who is looking for information about the American Revolution can use the site: operator to limit their search to results from the History Channel website. Or, a student who is looking for a specific file type, such as a PDF, can use the filetype: operator to find only results that match that file type. Learning how to use search engine operators is a valuable skill for students of all ages. It can help them find the information they need more quickly and easily, which can save them time and frustration.