# How Do You Hyperlink In An Email? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390 "2009-01-22T01:56:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/1 "2009-01-22T01:56:08Z")
I have never learned how to do this in email. It’s so simple to do it on this board, but it’s not the same. Up there is the little hyperlink icon, with it’s little popup labeling it so, and there’s a popup where you enter the address, but I don’t know what to do after that. My computer gurus, aka teenagers, are out and of course ignoring my calls. I don’t know why they make me stalk them. My email is msn, if that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/2 "2009-01-22T02:08:49Z")
The easiest way to do it is just type in the full web address. Whether it renders as a hyperlink or not depends on the email software the recipient is using. If you want a phrase to represent a web address [like this](http://boards.straightdope.com), then the method will vary depending on your email software. I’m using Microsoft Outlook and can either select “hyperlink” from the “insert” menu in a new message, or I can type the web address in the email then right click it and “edit hyperlink”. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/3 "2009-01-22T02:19:06Z")
I missed that you’re using MSN. Do you mean MSN Hotmail? If so then there is an “insert hyperlink” button above the edit window, similar to the one on these boards. Type the words you want to appear as a link in the main message window, select them, then click the “insert hyperlink” button. Enter the web address into the popup that appears, click “ok” and your hyperlink should be done. It’s exactly the same as using the hyperlink button on these boards. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/4 "2009-01-22T02:19:45Z")
I tried what I think is the way, and the word that I wanted to be clickable was highlighted in blue, but I couldn’t click on it. Maybe I can’t click on it but the other person can? We’ll see, but I gave her the particulars for it just in case. I finally did reach my oldest son, 18. When I told him what I needed, he said, “Let’s see, mom- you’re sending an email to someone who is so dumb that you don’t even think they know how to copy and paste, right?” Heh. Well, yes, actually- I’m sending it my best friend from high school that still lives in the sticks where we grew up and has never been anywhere. I have no idea how much she knows about computers, but I do know that she just barely heard about [classmates.com](http://classmates.com), so… I need a hyperlink. Then he said he would call me later and tell me when his minutes were free. Hmmpf. ETA: That’s the way I’ve been doing it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/5 "2009-01-22T02:36:18Z")
It won’t be a hyperlink for you, just a blue, underlined word, but it’ll be a hyperlink foryour friend. If you want to reassure yourself that it works, email a test back to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/6 "2009-01-22T02:42:01Z")
Why, you’re exactly right! I thought I wasn’t doing it right because I couldn’t click on it. (At least I know how to copy and paste.) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hyperlink-in-an-email/482390/7 "2009-01-22T03:11:41Z")
No worries!