Odd space in the URL of Google results

Time for some detective work

[ScottM]

Do a quick search on any of your favorite search terms.

Now look closely at the url. Did you notice that some of the results have an odd 'space' right before certain directory/folder levels?

If you copy and paste the url into the address bar- it usually shows an error.

Is it possible that Google is 'flagging' certain webpages? If so, for what?

What I can tell so far:

1. On almost all of the queries I've made, the 'space' seems to be right before a 'related' word/words to the query.

The related word is true in almost 80% of the checks I've made.

2. It is not related to spam pages. I can't find any relation there.

Beyond those two itmes, I can't find any rhyme or reason for it.

So let's play detective and rule some things out and narrow it down to the possible suspects!

[pageoneresults]

So let's play detective and rule some things out and narrow it down to the possible suspects!

Wrapping? I believe I saw a discussion on this not long ago and it had to do with wrapping the url. It also prevents screen scraping as Brett mentions here...

Strange space in SERP URL displayed [webmasterworld.com]

[ScottM]

I'm disappointed:<(

I looked and looked for a 'secret answer' but it looks as though 'wrapping' may be the answer?

[Clark]

I don't think it would make screen scraping all that hard. Just need to start with "www", then look for "- cached", then remove all spaces from the url and presto.

[rfgdxm1]

And, how does this stop screen scraping when the clickable SERP has to have the true URL without spaces?

[Clark]

eh, that's an even better point, heh heh.