Why was my Google structured snippet disapproved?
Direct answerGoogle disapproves a structured snippet when a value is promotional, repeated, or more than one item, or when the words do not match that header. The structured snippet requirements, reviewed October 16, 2026, say to put one item in each value field. Google adds the commas. “Sale” and “Free shipping” are not snippet values.
Rules that apply to every header
- Punctuation and symbols whose only job is to draw attention are not allowed. Google’s examples are exclamation marks, punctuation at the beginning of the text, and emoticons.
- A value cannot repeat in the same header or across different headers.
- Each value field holds one item. Google’s failures are a comma-separated list in one field, or two related items in one field. Add a field per item. Google separates them with commas.
- Promotional text is not allowed. The examples are “Sale” and “Free shipping.”
The same punctuation habit in a headline is editorial. A “Sale” line in a price-asset header is the price asset rule.
Headers with examples on the page
| Header | Google’s allowed examples | Google’s disallowed examples |
|---|---|---|
| Amenities | Ski Storage, Swimming Pool, Restaurant. Also Wi-Fi, Breakfast, Pool, Gym, Spa. | Rated most comfortable. 100% satisfaction guarantee. |
| Brands | Nest, Nexus, Chromebook. | Over 200 Brand names. Save on Brand names. Cheap Nest. New Nexus phones. Exclusive Chromecasts. |
| Courses | Linear Algebra, Creative Writing, Data Structures. | MBA, M.Ed, BS. The header is for specific classes, not a whole degree. |
| Degree programs | Accounting, Biology, Psychology. | 2 year, 4 year, masters, associates. Duration and other extra course details are not values. |
| Destinations | Las Vegas, New York, Tokyo, Rome, Cancun, Paris. Also Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Qutb Minar. | Hotels in 200 cities. Visit Paris. Taj Mahal tour package. Visit New Delhi. |
| Featured hotels | Luxury Inn, Alpine Lodge, Lakeside Hotel. | 10% off Alpine Lodge. Lowest rate on Lakeside Hotel. |
| Insurance coverage | Liability, Collision, Comprehensive. Also Term life, whole life, universal life. | Quotes for all coverages. Save now. |
Amenities have to be useful features or facilities of a building or place. Brands have to be brands the advertiser offers, not a count of brands and not a store or a dealership name dressed up as a brand. Destinations are cities, states, countries, continents, places of interest, cultural or heritage sites, or tourist attractions. Featured hotels are hotel names the advertiser books, not a discount. Insurance values are specific types of coverage.
The same article also defines Models, Neighborhoods, Service catalog, Shows, Styles, and Types. Those rows are not copied here. A country that is missing from the destination examples is not a ban. Check the live header before you reuse a row from this table.
Sources
Reviewed October 16, 2026. Policies change. This is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I type “Pool, Gym, Spa” in one value field?
No. Google’s example of what is not allowed is a comma-separated list in one value field, or two related items in one field. Add a new value for each item. Google says it will insert the commas.
Is “MBA” a course?
Not in the examples on this page. “Linear Algebra, Creative Writing, Data Structures” are allowed course values. “MBA, M.Ed, BS” are the not-allowed examples, because that header is for specific classes, not entire degree programs. Degree names such as Accounting and Biology belong in the Degree programs header.
Does this page list every header?
No. The table is the headers whose allowed and disallowed examples were on the page reviewed October 16, 2026. The same article also has Models, Neighborhoods, Service catalog, Shows, Styles, and Types. Use the live page for those rows rather than copying a Courses rule onto them.
Put one item in each snippet value
LaunchGuarding can scan snippet values for a sale line or a list stuffed into one field.