Domains with stop words in

Do search engines prefer no stop words?

[mooperlee]

As a general rule I would never put "stop" words into domain names - things like the, and, a, etc etc, just because it seems a waste of space.

However, I'm starting a new site about a subject that happens to have a stop word as an integral part of its title, and I was wondering what people think is the best approach?

Say, as an example, the subject is Apples And Oranges, and that is a well-known phrase that people are going to search for, not apples oranges.

Do I register applesandoranges.com? Or applesoranges.com?

I've had a look in Google and the stop words in domain names are not highlighted in bold, which would suggest that applesoranges.com would be best.

Any opinions or experiences?

[jtara]

Best for what?

Your users, or SEO?

I think too many webmasters put SEO ahead of their users.

Keep in mind that your domain name has only a small effect on SEO.

If it's a common phrase, go with the phrase as it is commonly-used.

[ZydoSEO]

I totally agree w/ jtara. If Apples And Oranges is the popular phrase then register ApplesAndOranges.com... It will be easier for your users to remember than ApplesOranges.

Keywords in the URL (domain name, folder names, and filenames) are secondary to keywords that appear in the title and content on the page per Matt Cutts (and many of the other speakers) in Site Review sessions at Pubcon. So I wouldn't sweat it. Go with what your users are likely to know it by and remember.