No underline on link = spam?

[tkroll]

Will removing the underline from a text link with "text-decoration:none;" be seen as spam?

Just curious. Thanks.

[Brett_Tabke]

The general thinking is not at the current time, but there is not indication that G might not have a problem with it in the future. Yes, there are many sites creating hidden links right in plain site. Go external on the css.

[rogerd]

there is no indication that G might not have a problem with it in the future

We never know what to expect from Google et al, but I certainly wouldn't expect this to be a problem. Although usability experts generally recommend underlined links, many designers omit the underline for appearance reasons. They may put the links in a different color so they stand out, for example, and add hover effects for further differentiation. This is particularly true for text links in an obvious navigation menu, where visitors will easily spot the links without a tacky underline. (Or, to be more precise, an underline that some artsy designers might consider tacky.)