Is there a way to tell google to ignore keywords in Webmaster Tools?

[RobotCo-op]

In Google Webmaster Tools for my site, the #1 keyword is "ago", probably because we format datestamps like "3 days ago".  Is there a way to tell google not to count the word "ago"?  Seems like a common enough word that google should be ignoring it.

I have a feeling the answer to my first question is "NO!", so my follow-up question is: is there a best practice for formatting dates for SEO?

Thanks!

[itrogers]

How are your timestamps formatted on the page? I would make sure they are not wrapped in any and

## etc format that makes Google treat those words with more importance. you can use CSS to keep the same feel but without using any major tags like that

[RobotCo-op]

They look like this:

7 days ago

Eg: http://www.43things.com/things/view/1295/to-live-instead-of-exist

Are there any HTML tags or CSS styles that say the opposite of , like <ignore this="">?</ignore>

[itrogers]

I am not aware of any. Not sure if you want to go through the trouble, but you can insert the timestamp on a separate html page and display it using an iframe, and then link rel no index that page. It depends on what framework or CMS you are using. You'd have to create a PHP script that would create a new file and insert the timestamp onto that page with the correct header and rel information, and then styling to make it appear where it normally was correctly.

[RobotCo-op]

Seems like a lot of work!  Maybe I'll just change the date format to the SEO-friendly but less user-friendly, "March 20, 2011"

[itrogers]

Probably not a bad idea. Also maybe focus on making your other elements / keywords more important for search engines if they aren't already? just make it very easy for search engines to read your content, use and headings where applicable and relevant around your keywords