TinyURL (http://tinyurl.com/) is a site that makes long URLs into short ones. The shorter URL links directly to the site you were intending to go to, and reduces the possibility for error if you are typing the link out by hand. TinyURLs are useful for sites with character limits on postings, most obviously Twitter, with its maximum of 140 characters per tweet.
To use TinyURL, just go to the link above, copy and paste the link you want to shorten, and click Make TinyURL! You also have the option to customize your link, adding words that help someone remember what the tinyURL is for, just by adding your preferred name in the box below the input for large URLs. (For example, http://tinyurl.com/aost9jg could be replaced by http://tinyurl.com/scitfits.)
Do you send lots of URLs to people? You can make a toolbar button from TinyURL that will allow you to shorten URLs with a click, with instructions at http://tinyurl.com/.
Because TinyURLs have a limited number of characters, changing one letter or number after the forward slash sends you to a new website at random. Doing this for fun is called TinyURL-whacking.
By ITA, Hillary Shipps