"-" compared to "_"

Dresden14 · 12-08-2010, 02:16 PM

For example:

Example.com/anxiety-help.php
Example.com/anxiety_help.php

Is there a difference when trying to rank subpages on google?

yukon · 12-08-2010, 02:19 PM

I wouldn't use an underscore.

I don't think it will hurt seo wise, just the hyphen looks better & more consistent across the SERPs.

iva · 12-08-2010, 02:20 PM

Not from my own experience, but apparently it is. I am reading a book by Aarron Walter "Building Findable Websites" and he always recommends to use "-" instead of "_". When you use "anxiety-help" search engines read "anxiety" "help", whereas "anxiety_help" is read like "anxiety_help", which is not likely to match search query. At least, according to this book.

socialbookmark · 12-08-2010, 02:26 PM

However i am not sure about the difference between them for ranking, i prefer to use Example.com/anxiety-help.php and i suggest it to you.

paulgl · 12-08-2010, 02:32 PM

Matt Cutts has said a lot of stuff on this. First that
an underscore means nothing to a human. But then I
had found this video where he talks about separators.
A dash is better. I always went with a dash because humans
(visitors) know what that means. An underscore, not so much.
Here is a semi-recent answer:

YouTube - Should I use underscores or hyphens in...

I know some don't like Matt Cutts...Sometimes, he's all we got.

Paul

Matt Ward · 12-08-2010, 02:32 PM

I had no idea you could even use underscores in page names. I don't think I've ever seen that used before, now that I think of it. Hyphens definitely look better, SEO factors aside.

Dresden14 · 12-09-2010, 09:28 PM

looks like i gotta lot of revisions to make then... lol

jesus72knight · 12-10-2010, 12:49 AM

"The reason why we typically never talk stuffs in the future is that it gives us the freedom to change our minds."

Currently, dashes are the ones preferred to be use as separators but who knows? The gameplay might change in the future.

yukon · 12-10-2010, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulgl

I know some don't like Matt Cutts...Sometimes, he's all we got.

Paul

[closed eyes]

Go to my safe place,
Go to my safe place,
Go to my safe place...

theentry · 12-10-2010, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulgl

Matt Cutts has said a lot of stuff on this. First that
an underscore means nothing to a human. But then I
had found this video where he talks about separators.
A dash is better. I always went with a dash because humans
(visitors) know what that means. An underscore, not so much.
Here is a semi-recent answer:
YouTube - Should I use underscores or hyphens in URLs?

I know some don't like Matt Cutts...Sometimes, he's all we got.

Paul

Heh wanted to post the same vid. Yes it makes no difference, but a hyphen is more "user friendly" I think

sijugk · 12-10-2010, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dresden14

For example:

Example.com/anxiety-help.php
Example.com/anxiety_help.php

Is there a difference when trying to rank subpages on google?

_ is a null character like space. - is a character. It is not wise to use _ for separating words in a url. Better practice is - .

tracy.roberts35 · 12-10-2010, 03:33 AM

a "-" hyphen is more preferred to "_" underscore and its a good practice too

12-08-2010, 02:16 PM	#1
Dresden14 Advanced Warrior Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles, California. USA Posts: 549 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	"-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? For example: Example.com/anxiety-help.php Example.com/anxiety_help.php Is there a difference when trying to rank subpages on google?

12-08-2010, 02:19 PM	#2
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? I wouldn't use an underscore. I don't think it will hurt seo wise, just the hyphen looks better & more consistent across the SERPs.
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12-08-2010, 02:20 PM	#3
iva I will succeed War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 264 Thanks: 138 Thanked 79 Times in 45 Posts	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? Not from my own experience, but apparently it is. I am reading a book by Aarron Walter "Building Findable Websites" and he always recommends to use "-" instead of "_". When you use "anxiety-help" search engines read "anxiety" "help", whereas "anxiety_help" is read like "anxiety_help", which is not likely to match search query. At least, according to this book.
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12-08-2010, 02:26 PM	#4
socialbookmark Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,507 Thanks: 9 Thanked 82 Times in 81 Posts Social Networking	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? However i am not sure about the difference between them for ranking, i prefer to use Example.com/anxiety-help.php and i suggest it to you.
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12-08-2010, 02:32 PM	#6
Matt Ward Addicted to IM War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: {Sunny\|Frigid} Canada Posts: 716 Thanks: 65 Thanked 150 Times in 89 Posts	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? I had no idea you could even use underscores in page names. I don't think I've ever seen that used before, now that I think of it. Hyphens definitely look better, SEO factors aside.
	"Keep moving forward."

12-09-2010, 09:28 PM	#7
Dresden14 Advanced Warrior Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles, California. USA Posts: 549 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? looks like i gotta lot of revisions to make then... lol

12-10-2010, 12:49 AM	#8
jesus72knight SEO Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York City Posts: 395 Thanks: 54 Thanked 28 Times in 26 Posts	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? "The reason why we typically never talk stuffs in the future is that it gives us the freedom to change our minds." Currently, dashes are the ones preferred to be use as separators but who knows? The gameplay might change in the future.
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12-10-2010, 03:33 AM	#12
tracy.roberts35 Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "-" compared to "_" - Is there a difference? a "-" hyphen is more preferred to "_" underscore and its a good practice too
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