Google bans slang from AdWords
14 January 2005
Search firm Google is taking a stance in defence of good grammar and punctuation and has reportedly refused to accept adverts using poor English or slang.
Google AdWords division reasons that slang and unorthodox usage and punctuation create a less straightforward searching experience, according to the New York Times.
"We really focus on creating ads that at the most basic level have proper spelling and grammar so that they're clear to users," said David Fischer, director for AdWords. "We really encourage clear, effective, to-the-point communication to searchers."
In the article, Sarah Lefton reveals that she received an email from Google informing her that averts submitted for inclusion in search listings had been suspended for failing to meet the search engine's "grammar requirements".
"The offending phrase was "check em out." Google suggested replacing it with "check them out", " Ms Lefton wrote. "All I could do was laugh. Since when does anyone care about grammar and style on the Web?"
Google claims to operate an in-house style guide, written by its editorial staff, which it says is a living document, expanding over time to include neologisms and pop-culture references, such as bling. AdWords submissions are screened by an automated system that flags violations like multiple exclamation points.
Yahoo!'s Overture, MSN Search and AltaVista, all operate official editorial policies and, like Google, Overture does not allow excessive punctuation, gratuitous symbols or the use of unjustifiable superlatives.
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