Common words (like “and,” “the”) often ignored by search engines in queries.
I know the old SEO advice: delete all small words like “the” and “a” to cram more keywords into your titles.
That advice is outdated and, frankly, makes your content look robotic and unreadable, which is bad for the user experience.
I will explain What is Stop Words?, why Google now understands them, and where I still recommend keeping my URLs clean.
What is Stop Words? The Function Words
Let us look at these tiny but powerful words: What is Stop Words? They are common words, like “is,” “and,” “the,” or “of,” that are generally filtered out by search engine algorithms because they do not carry significant meaning on their own.
In the past, removing them was a tactic to save precious character space in short meta descriptions or page titles.
However, modern search engines use Natural Language Processing (NLP) and now understand that stop words are often necessary to preserve the true meaning and intent of a search query.
Stop Word Strategy by CMS Platform
My CMS tools help me manage stop words, especially in the areas where they still pose a minor risk.
WordPress (WP)
WordPress SEO plugins like Yoast will flag stop words, but I recommend only removing them from the URL slug, not the page title.
I focus on making the URL short and clean, transforming a long slug like /how-to-optimize-your-website/ to a clean /optimize-website/.
I never remove stop words from the main content because I want my articles to read naturally for my human audience.
Shopify
Shopify automatically cleans up URL slugs, but I check my collection and product slugs to ensure they are concise.
I use stop words freely in my product titles and descriptions to ensure they are grammatically correct and persuasive to shoppers.
My goal is to optimize for the customer experience first, and readability is key for sales.
Wix
Wix users should prioritize writing engaging, clear titles and descriptions that include stop words for readability.
The only place I recommend being strict about stop words is in the page slug to keep the URL short and easy to share.
I make sure my content is focused on providing valuable information, not trying to game the system with awkward, stripped-down phrases.
Webflow
Webflow’s customizability means I can programmatically remove stop words from my dynamic URLs, which is a great use of automation.
I ensure that all H1 tags and visible headings retain stop words where needed to make the page flow well for users.
I trust Google’s ability to understand the context of my page, even with common words present.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, I use code to automatically strip stop words from my URL slugs during the publishing process.
I make sure my content writers are trained to write naturally, avoiding the temptation to unnaturally repeat keywords by removing stop words.
The use of stop words is necessary to successfully target long-tail, conversational search queries.
Stop Word Strategies by Industry
The importance of stop words varies, especially in industries that rely on precise phrasing.
Ecommerce
I use stop words in product titles and descriptions to create natural language, such as “a durable leather wallet for men.”
Removing the stop words would make the title robotic and less appealing to a shopper.
However, I keep my URL concise, often just using the main product identifiers to keep the address clean.
Local Businesses
Stop words are very important for local search because people often search using conversational phrases, like “plumbers near me” or “best pizza in Chicago.”
I ensure my visible page copy and headings reflect these natural search queries exactly as the user searches them.
I only remove stop words from the URL slug to improve its aesthetic appeal and shareability.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
In the technical SaaS space, stop words are crucial for targeting complex, multi-word phrases and questions.
I use stop words in my content to write natural, helpful answers to user questions like “What are the benefits of API integration?”
The clarity and grammatical correctness of my content always take priority over saving a few characters.
Blogs
Blog titles must be compelling and readable, so I use stop words freely in the title tags and H1s for maximum click-through rate.
I never let the fear of a stop word make my content sound awkward or difficult to read.
I trust the quality of my content and the power of natural language to attract users and search engines alike.
FAQ Section: Your Quick Stop Word Answers
Should I remove stop words from my page titles?
No, I recommend leaving stop words in the page title if they make the title more readable and encourage a user to click.
Google will not penalize me for using them there, and readability is my priority.
Is “best restaurants in NYC” better than “best restaurants NYC”?
For a user reading the search result, the first option, “best restaurants in NYC,” is better and more natural.
Google understands both and will show the same results, so I prioritize the version that improves my click-through rate.
Where should I definitely remove stop words?
I remove stop words from the URL slug to make the web address as short, clean, and memorable as possible.
A short URL is easier to share and copy and helps me avoid unnecessary clutter in my web structure.
Are stop words the same in every language?
No, every language has its own list of stop words, but the SEO rule is the same: use them when they help the user understand the content, and remove them only when they create clutter.
The most common stop words in English are “the,” “a,” “an,” “is,” and “of.”
