# URL vs hyperlink preference **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 7, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131 "2019-11-07T16:49:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/21 "2019-11-07T23:36:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So far as I can tell, the only reason to use a naked URL is because you can’t figure out how to use the URL tag. Which is a perfectly fine and valid reason to do it. But it does mean that nobody, ever, is going to be putting in meaningless alterations to the URL to force the URL condenser to leave it alone. I’ve gotten into the habit of leaving the full URL written out because in my experience on _other_ forums, sometimes a bug or migration to newer software will leave all of the hyperlinks nonfunctional. Of course, _this_ message board seems pretty set on staying with the same software until hamsters go extinct. So my fear may be unfounded. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/22 "2019-11-08T00:17:07Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816406286208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359408128481117450284102701938521105559644622948954930381964428810975665933446128475648233786783165271201909145648566923460348610454326648213393607260249141273724587006606315588174881520920962829254091715364367892590360011330530548820466521384146951941511609433057270365759591953092186117381932611793105118548074462379962749567351885752724891227938183011949129833673362440656643086021394946395224737190702179860943702770539 > > Sorry I ran out. ☹ Much appreciated! Almost as good as what I get from my Amish friends … [![](https://i.imgflip.com/1tublw.jpg) ](https://i.imgflip.com/1tublw.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/23 "2019-11-08T00:43:31Z")
OK, I’ll grant that that would be a valid reason to not only leave the full URL visible, but also to protect it against the auto-shortener. And I suppose that I’ve occasionally used visible URLs in contexts where I wasn’t convinced that link coding would work right for all viewers (e-mail, for instance, though it’s a rare e-mail program nowadays that wouldn’t recognize HTML email). Or, I suppose, for something that will be printed out. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/24 "2019-11-08T00:54:32Z")
If you feel it necessary to include the whole URL, please do the rest of us a favor and test it before posting. That way, you can correct things like the closing parenthesis that gets dropped. Actually, even if you use a hyperlink, you should test it. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/25 "2019-11-08T01:05:10Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > You mean like this? > > Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). [Long URL Please](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330). _Reuters Thompson_ (Republished from _PC World_). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) > > ~Max I’m not quite sure what you are trying to say here. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/26 "2019-11-08T01:11:16Z")
I prefer the hyperlink, but in Thread Games when we’re working with lists by copying and pasting, the long URL is preferable because the hyperlink is lost in the copy/paste process. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/27 "2019-11-08T01:17:44Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m not quite sure what you are trying to say here. If I’m attempting to follow a style book, the URL is being written out to some extent no matter what. So it could be like this: Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). Long URL Please. _Reuters Thompson_ (Republished from _PC World_). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) or like this: Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). Long URL Please. _Reuters Thompson_ (Republished from _PC World_). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) or like this: Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). Long URL Please. _Reuters Thompson_ (Republished from _PC World_). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) or like this: Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). [Long URL Please](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330). _Reuters Thompson_ (Republished from _PC World_). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) Although with DOIs I usually make that a hyperlink. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/28 "2019-11-08T02:37:12Z")
The URL being written out to some extent is only relevant if you are for some reason making an style-book dictated posting. Why would you be doing that on this message board? What’s wrong with: Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). [Long URL Please.](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) Reuters Thompson (Republished from PC World). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [link](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/29 "2019-11-08T03:05:03Z")
I can’t “mouse over” a link on my phone. I can click and hold to get a menu, but Android doesn’t show me the end of the url like this board does, just the beginning. So I don’t get a warning if it’s a PDF like I do if someone just posts the URL. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/30 "2019-11-08T03:06:03Z")
And if it’s an academic work, just post the DOI. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/31 "2019-11-08T14:01:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Either, although pasting a hyperlink on a phone is a pain in the ass, so I understand why people (me included) just paste the raw URL. This is why I often don’t use hyperlink code. It can take 2-3 times as long to post something and a lot more frustrating. The UI for making links on this forum sucks on a mobile device. As I type this now I only have two buttons to aid formatting, “fonts” and “size”, neither of which I ever use. I have to painstakingly type out BBcode and fight autocorrect and other “helper” features on my device which then undo what I type, forcing me sometimes to have to redo the code again. Or I long-press and choose “paste”. Which method do you think I will use? Though I rarely if ever post a link without writing something explaining what the link is first, > [@ftg](#): > > The real issue is people not providing context to a link. Those “This is a great video \.”-type posts are detestable. Honestly there should be a rule against only posting links (especially to a long video) without any explanation as to what the link is to, what you think about it, why you posted the link, etc. I have seen moderators issue warnings against posters who make a habit of doing that (especially if a thread just has a link as the OP) so I guess there’s an unwritten rule at least. ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/32 "2019-11-08T14:18:37Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > I prefer the hyperlink, but in Thread Games when we’re working with lists by copying and pasting, the long URL is preferable because the hyperlink is lost in the copy/paste process. If you “Reply with Quote” and delete the “[QUOTE=…]” and “[/QUOTE]” tags, links are preserved. This is also a smidge easier than copy-and-paste on a phone, IME. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/33 "2019-11-08T18:33:39Z")
> [@mjmlabs](#): > > If you “Reply with Quote” and delete the “[QUOTE=…]” and “[/QUOTE]” tags, links are preserved. This is also a smidge easier than copy-and-paste on a phone, IME. I guess I’m backwards on that. I find copy/paste easier both on a phone and a PC. Although reply with quote may resolve the spacing issues I have with lists when I’m on the phone. I’ll have to play with it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/34 "2019-11-10T14:20:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I prefer a hyperlink that gives a hint as to what the link is about, and mousing over it gives the URL anyway. Yep, this. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/35 "2019-11-12T21:52:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So far as I can tell, the only reason to use a naked URL is because you can’t figure out how to use the URL tag. Which is a perfectly fine and valid reason to do it. But it does mean that nobody, ever, is going to be putting in meaningless alterations to the URL to force the URL condenser to leave it alone. That’s my reason. If I’m posting from my phone I usually don’t remember how to format the tag. If I’m at a PC, I’ll take the time to figure it out, tell myself not to forget how, and then promptly forget how. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/36 "2019-11-12T23:02:43Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > The URL being written out to some extent is only relevant if you are for some reason making an style-book dictated posting. Why would you be doing that on this message board? > > What’s wrong with: > > Gralla, P. (2010, March 31). [Long URL Please.](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) Reuters Thompson (Republished from PC World). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from [link](https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns002570f3005978d8002576f60035a6bb/long-url-please-idUS98192761820100330) Out of habit. Also making a hyperlink is more work. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/37 "2019-11-12T23:27:18Z")
I post almost exclusively from my phone. Setting up a link is much harder than just pasting a URL and the board shortens it so that it isn’t unwieldy. I always note if something is a PDF or a video, because I hate having those sprung on me. I think both should be required unless obvious. (YouTube URL is obviously a video.). I can’t hover over links. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/38 "2019-11-12T23:45:21Z")
Nearly 2/3 of the respondents prefer a link. Personally, I don’t find “I’m posting from my phone” a convincing argument to do otherwise. Note: Not directed at any poster in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/39 "2019-11-13T01:32:12Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > I prefer the hyperlink, but in Thread Games when we’re working with lists by copying and pasting, the long URL is preferable because the hyperlink is lost in the copy/paste process. Can you right-click on the hyperlink and copy the URL? > [@Max\_S](#): > > Also making a hyperlink is more work. Not much (unless you’re on a phone). Select what you want to link and click the hyperlink button. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131/40 "2019-11-13T03:21:28Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Out of habit. Also making a hyperlink is more work. > > ~Max Is it more work from a phone? I’m asking because I never look at this board or post from a phone, and on my computer, I just click the “hyperlink” button. Seems pretty easy to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-vs-hyperlink-preference/843131.md?page=3)