Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article?

Matt Gannon · 10-06-2009, 01:14 PM

Just wanted to ask first here, before I go and do it, I plan to quote it and write - Source Wikipedia after it, its about one paragraph. If not ill just rewrite the paragraph in my own words.

jennypitts · 10-06-2009, 01:44 PM

As far as I am concerned, quoting Wikipedia in an ezine article should not be a problem. I think the problem arises when you quote others in Wikipedia, I do not think they like it and can cancel your submission.

Matt Gannon · 10-06-2009, 02:09 PM

Well I hope that its okay, because I just submitted it!

Anup Mahajan · 10-06-2009, 02:11 PM

Let us know how it goes..

Cheers,

Jillian Slack · 10-06-2009, 02:24 PM

I know it's too late and you've already submitted it, but for future articles, why not just avoid it?

It might require a little digging, but if you find a fact or quote on Wikipedia and you want to use it, dig a little deeper and find the true source.

Sometimes it's one of the links at the end of the article, in the footnotes.

Sometimes it's not so easy and you'll end up Googling the fact and playing with the way it is phrased.

I've been able to track down the true source of information this way many times, and I would much prefer to have that original source rather than Wikipedia since anyone (and everyone) can contribute to Wikipedia.

Matt Gannon · 10-06-2009, 02:41 PM

Well the part I took was the intro of the wiki and I believe it was written by the author of the wiki itself, but I did look at the sources and found valuable information that I can use later, thank you very much!

Ofthemix · 10-06-2009, 03:41 PM

I quote Webster.com all the time. I think the thing about quoting any website is making sure that you site them as the source for your information. For example, I'll usually write "Per Webster.com blah(whatever word I'm using) is defined as "definition". I've never run into a problem doing that.

Steven Carl Kelly · 10-06-2009, 04:38 PM

All Wikipedia content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license and can also be used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

That means yes, you CAN use the content, verbatim, so long as you follow the rules. See this link for complete details:

Wikipedia:Reusing Wikipedia content - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A. Green · 10-06-2009, 05:14 PM

I agree with Jillian. Of course, it depends on the purpose of your article. If you're just building links, then no worries. If you're hoping to get people to actually read the articles, click the link in your bio, and go buy something, though, then a more reputable source would add useful credibility.

Honestly, when I see anyone use info from wikipedia, I presume they don't really know much about the subject. Wikipedia is convenient, but it's got a reputation for being error-ridden. Even if I know the writer is an expert, their use of wikipedia makes them seem kind of lazy. I know they *do* have good info on some subjects, but they just don't have a very good reputation.

10-06-2009, 01:14 PM	#1
Matt Gannon HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hudson, NH Posts: 321 Thanks: 99 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? Just wanted to ask first here, before I go and do it, I plan to quote it and write - Source Wikipedia after it, its about one paragraph. If not ill just rewrite the paragraph in my own words.
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10-06-2009, 01:44 PM	#2
jennypitts PRAS - Social Networking Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Worldwide Posts: 408 Thanks: 1 Thanked 37 Times in 35 Posts Social Networking	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? As far as I am concerned, quoting Wikipedia in an ezine article should not be a problem. I think the problem arises when you quote others in Wikipedia, I do not think they like it and can cancel your submission.
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10-06-2009, 02:09 PM	#3
Matt Gannon HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hudson, NH Posts: 321 Thanks: 99 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? Well I hope that its okay, because I just submitted it!
	Matthew Gannon - Easy way to find Backlinks

10-06-2009, 02:11 PM	#4
Anup Mahajan Firm Believer In Karma War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 796 Thanks: 71 Thanked 104 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? Let us know how it goes.. Cheers,
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10-06-2009, 02:24 PM	#5
Jillian Slack Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 714 Thanks: 24 Thanked 94 Times in 62 Posts	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? I know it's too late and you've already submitted it, but for future articles, why not just avoid it? It might require a little digging, but if you find a fact or quote on Wikipedia and you want to use it, dig a little deeper and find the true source. Sometimes it's one of the links at the end of the article, in the footnotes. Sometimes it's not so easy and you'll end up Googling the fact and playing with the way it is phrased. I've been able to track down the true source of information this way many times, and I would much prefer to have that original source rather than Wikipedia since anyone (and everyone) can contribute to Wikipedia.

10-06-2009, 02:41 PM	#6
Matt Gannon HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hudson, NH Posts: 321 Thanks: 99 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? Well the part I took was the intro of the wiki and I believe it was written by the author of the wiki itself, but I did look at the sources and found valuable information that I can use later, thank you very much!
	Matthew Gannon - Easy way to find Backlinks

10-06-2009, 03:41 PM	#7
Ofthemix Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 607 Thanks: 239 Thanked 226 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? I quote Webster.com all the time. I think the thing about quoting any website is making sure that you site them as the source for your information. For example, I'll usually write "Per Webster.com blah(whatever word I'm using) is defined as "definition". I've never run into a problem doing that.
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10-06-2009, 04:38 PM	#8
Steven Carl Kelly Trust Christ Alone War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,014 Thanks: 63 Thanked 806 Times in 391 Posts	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? All Wikipedia content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license and can also be used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. That means yes, you CAN use the content, verbatim, so long as you follow the rules. See this link for complete details: Wikipedia:Reusing Wikipedia content - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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10-06-2009, 05:14 PM	#9
A. Green Warrior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 25 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Can i quote wikipedia in my ezine article? I agree with Jillian. Of course, it depends on the purpose of your article. If you're just building links, then no worries. If you're hoping to get people to actually read the articles, click the link in your bio, and go buy something, though, then a more reputable source would add useful credibility. Honestly, when I see anyone use info from wikipedia, I presume they don't really know much about the subject. Wikipedia is convenient, but it's got a reputation for being error-ridden. Even if I know the writer is an expert, their use of wikipedia makes them seem kind of lazy. I know they do have good info on some subjects, but they just don't have a very good reputation.