underscores or dashes?

Is there a difference?

[Hefner]

When I was making my keyword subdirectories, there were loads of spaces between certain keywords. So I'd like to know, which is better to use, if it even matters, Underscores or Dashes?

And if it does matter, whats the reason for it?

[jdMorgan]

Hefner,

Try a site search here on WebmasterWorld (see link at top of this page) for "underscore hyphen" for several threads on this subject.

HTH,
Jim

[Hefner]

jim,

i did a search like you said, but the topics covered the base keyword url, which everyone agrees hyphens is the way to go, but I am more interested in knowing about the subdirectory kewords like:

widgets.com/fresh-new-widgets.html

or

widgets.com/fresh_new_widgets.html

Does it make a difference or is it merely a visual thing?

[deejay]

Hi Hef

Exactly the same arguments (and answers) apply to the subdirectory naming as to the file name.

<gahhh.. three hours is not enough sleep.>

[edited by: deejay at 9:27 pm (utc) on April 1, 2003]

[Hefner]

So if people are saying hyphens are better, then why do I keep seeing underscore subdirectories on top of Google over the hyphen method?

[Receptional Andy]

>>Exactly the same arguments (and answers) apply to the subdirectory naming as to the domain name.

Except you can't have underscores in a domain name ;)

Generally, the advice is to use hyphens because google indexes the _ character (try searching Google for it!) and treats hyphens as a space.

why do I keep seeing underscore subdirectories on top of Google over the hyphen method?

Because both can be effective IMO, and also many SEO use underscores and so their pages are more likely to be at the top of Google regardless of whether they use a hyphen or an underscore.

It depends what you search for too - I can see a whole load of hyphenated pages for a search term in front of me now.

[edited by: Receptional_Andy at 9:29 pm (utc) on April 1, 2003]

[deejay]

*lol* thanks Andy... I'm not entirely with it this morning.

[Hefner]

Thanks for the help guys!

[Hefner]

Well since experimenting is the best way to use methods you've heard or learned about, I'll just try both out, and whichever works better, is what I'll use. God knows I have the time.. Thanks again.