Wordpress putting %E2%80%8E at the end of my url, howcome?

📝 Title: Unraveling the Mystery of %E2%80%8E in Your WordPress URL

‼️ Introduction: So, you've noticed a strange sequence of characters '%E2%80%8E' appearing at the end of your WordPress permalink. Don't panic! You're not alone in this mystery. In this blog post, we'll delve into what this strange occurrence is all about and provide you with simple solutions to address it. Let's get started!

🔎 Understanding the Issue: First things first, the '%E2%80%8E' is not a bug or glitch in WordPress itself. It is, in fact, a Unicode character representation for the "LEFT-TO-RIGHT MARK" (LRM). This character is typically used in text formatting for languages that are written from right to left (RTL), such as Arabic or Hebrew.

🧐 Why is WordPress Adding LRM? While WordPress is primarily built to cater to languages that are written from left to right (LTR), it includes support for RTL languages as well. Sometimes, when you copy and paste text from another source, especially if it's written in an RTL language, WordPress may include this LRM character in the URL. This can happen when there's a discrepancy in the text encoding.

🚀 Fixing the %E2%80%8E Issue: 1️⃣ Manual URL Adjustment: The simplest solution is to manually remove the '%E2%80%8E' from your permalink. However, this is not a long-term fix, as it requires manual intervention each time you update your permalink.

2️⃣ Disable RTL Support: If your website doesn't require RTL language support, you can consider disabling it altogether. To do this, head to the WordPress admin dashboard, go to "Settings" -> "Writing," and uncheck the box that says "Use RTL layout when available." By doing this, WordPress will no longer include the LRM character in your URL.

3️⃣ Text Encoding Verification: Another possible reason for the presence of '%E2%80%8E' is due to text encoding issues. Ensure that your text editor or source material is using the correct encoding (UTF-8 is highly recommended). Additionally, consider pasting the content into a plain text editor (e.g., Notepad) before copying and pasting it into WordPress.

4️⃣ WordPress Plugin Assistance: If the issue persists, you can try using plugins like "Remove UTM from URL" or "Permalink Manager Lite" to automatically remove the LRM character from your URLs. These plugins can save you time and effort by performing the necessary adjustments on your behalf.

📣 Conclusion and Call-to-Action: Now that you know why WordPress is appending '%E2%80%8E' to your URL and how to fix it, you can bid farewell to this mysterious occurrence. Remember, it's essential to ensure that your URLs remain clean and user-friendly, as they play a significant role in search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience.

Do you have any experiences with peculiar URL issues? Share your story or any additional tips in the comments below. Let's help other WordPress users overcome similar challenges! 🙌

📖 Further Reading: If you'd like to explore more about WordPress URL optimization or other common WordPress issues, check out these related articles:

• "Mastering WordPress Permalinks: A Comprehensive Guide"

• "Understanding Unicode Characters and Encoding in WordPress"

Happy blogging, folks! 🎉