What are “stop words” and do they matter for filtering?

\"Stop words\" in spam filtering refer to words historically associated with spam-\"free,\" \"guaranteed,\" \"act now.\" The outdated belief: avoid these words to avoid spam folders. The reality: modern filters are far more sophisticated than keyword matching.

Context matters enormously. \"Free shipping\" from Amazon doesn't trigger filters because Amazon has stellar reputation. The same phrase from an unknown sender with no authentication might contribute to a negative score, but it's the sender profile, not the word, doing the damage.

Stop worrying about stop words. Use the language your message requires. If you're offering free shipping, say \"free shipping.\" If your sale is urgent, convey urgency. Focus on building sender reputation through authentication, list hygiene, and genuine engagement. That's what protects deliverability-not tiptoeing around common English words that every legitimate business uses.