Title: String Last modified: October 26, 2021 --- # String * Resolved [Rik0399](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rik0399/) * (@rik0399) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/) * Hi John, * I get this problem by the ton and am not sure if it’s someone maliciously doing this or a bot. * I have a listing called – /pretty-flowers/ * Getting various themes on the above link such as : * /prestige-flowers-is-voted-1-for-next-day-flower-delivery-and-review-florist- uk-editors-choice/ * So to catch these I used : * /pretty-flowers/(.*) or /pretty-flowers(.*) – both with and without REGEX * If I DON’T apply REGEX I see a 404, if I DO apply REGEX I see “Too many redirects” messege? * Would appreciate a point, please. * Obliged 😉 Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) * Plugin Author [John Godley](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnny5/) * (@johnny5) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15010403) * Your example doesn’t match `/pretty-flowers/` so I don’t know how they are connected. * You cannot have regular expression characters without the regex option being enabled – you will always have a 404. * If you create a loop then you need to stop the loop, by making sure your expression does not match the target. * Thread Starter [Rik0399](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rik0399/) * (@rik0399) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15011377) * Thanks for that, * I was hoping, understanding the problem, that you were able to offer a solution to what I was refering too? * The full url would be : * [http://www.mysite.com/pretty-flowers/](http://www.mysite.com/pretty-flowers/) * So someone/bot is using : * [http://www.mysite.com/pretty-flowers-is-voted-1-for-next-day-flower-delivery-and-review-florist-uk-editors-choice/](http://www.mysite.com/pretty-flowers-is-voted-1-for-next-day-flower-delivery-and-review-florist-uk-editors-choice/) * So I want this to redirect to : * [http://www.mysite.com/pretty-flowers/](http://www.mysite.com/pretty-flowers/) * So how do I do that, please? * Many Thanks * Plugin Author [John Godley](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnny5/) * (@johnny5) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15011922) * As in previous requests, it’s not necessary to fix all 404s. If someone is requesting a URL that doesn’t exist and isn’t linked, then it isn’t necessary to fix it – you will endlessly chase these, and it is a waste of time. A 404 is the correct response. * If the URL is being legitimately requested because of an old link then it is easiest just to create a plain redirect for the exact URL. * Thread Starter [Rik0399](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rik0399/) * (@rik0399) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15011993) * Hi John, * I want to be able to redirect any/all URLs to relevant pages on my site not generate endless 404’s as these can be detrimental, SEO speaking. * So, and as an example, if a URL is either not on my site or a malicious bot calling a spurious url and rather allow it to fall to a 404, I would much prefer to redirect such to a relevant area on my site such as my blog. * So how do I make that happen, to cite my earlier examlpe, using your plugin, please? * Regards, * Plugin Author [John Godley](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnny5/) * (@johnny5) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15012021) * Legitimate 404s are detrimental. Spurious 404s are not. I do not advise redirecting these – it is a fruitless task with no benefit. * If you still want to redirect that URL then your regex needs to match the spurious URL. Your examples above only match the valid URL, which is not what you want. * These: `/pretty-flowers/(.*)` `/pretty-flowers(.*)` * Match `/pretty-flowers/`. They do not match `/pretty-flowers-is-voted-1-for-next- day-flower-delivery-and-review-florist-uk-editors-choice/`. You need to match`/ pretty-flowers-is-voted-1-for-next-day-flower-delivery-and-review-florist-uk- editors-choice/` and not `/pretty-flowers/` * Thread Starter [Rik0399](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rik0399/) * (@rik0399) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15012642) * Hi John, * Thanks for that, appreciated. * Here’s my problem … * This URL is correct : * /uksoccer-shop/ * The following url, of which /uksoccer-shop/ is correct but creates a 404? * /uksoccer-shop/?feed_id=1750&_unique_id=5f6cf071902b1 * It only works if I do this : * /uksoccer-shop/(.*) and checking REGEN? * Hope that makes sense and again, my thanks for your time 🙂 * Plugin Author [John Godley](https://wordpress.org/support/users/johnny5/) * (@johnny5) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15012929) * It’s a little strange that the query parameters cause a 404. Is that a plugin? Standard WordPress pages don’t react in that way. * `/uksoccer-shop/(.*)` will match the target `/uksoccer-shop/`, which will cause a loop. Using `(.+)` means it requires at least one character. * Thread Starter [Rik0399](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rik0399/) * (@rik0399) * [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15015258) * Hi John, * Thanks for that, it’s driving me mad for sure. * I would be happy to share the download csv file with you * With so many expressions being thrown at the site, trying to pass on ID queries for record stats, and n top of that, tons of hackers trying to call WP files … * A lot of work Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) The topic ‘String’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/redirection/assets/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=983639) * [Redirection](https://wordpress.org/plugins/redirection/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/redirection/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/redirection/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/redirection/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/redirection/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/redirection/reviews/) * 8 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [Rik0399](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rik0399/) * Last activity: [4 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/string-2/#post-15015258) * Status: resolved