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Difference between proper research and ripping off content

by andr3w84
5 replies
I've started writing articles to submit to EZA and I think they are quite good regarding grammar, punctuation & style, but in terms of originality I wonder if EZA is going to disregard them as they are 100% taken from other web content (mostly a variety of other authority sites, not EZA). What is the line that separates solid articles that can lead the writer to immediate Platinum status and solid researcher-writer reputation, and the others that will stigmatize her/him as a fraudulent content-ripper?
#content #difference #ideas #ripping
  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    If you are doing proper research and getting your ideas from different sources and then compiling all that into an article (which it sounds like you are) then you are probably hands above 90% of the other people on there.

    If you are just reading 1 article then rewriting it using different words, then that's not so good.

    It sounds like you are on the right track, though.

    Lee
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      When I was in school, one of my profs told me, "steal from one source and it's plagiarism, steal from fifty sources and it's research."

      Research means you may be taking facts (which you should try to verify using a second source for proper research), ideas, article structures, information sources (if someone quotes a reliable source, like the American Medical Association, you can use the same source), even a clever turn of phrase.

      If you use larger chunks of content, like a paragraph or two, make sure you do so as a quote, with proper attribution. Recognizing and acknowledging the expertise of others is a sign of authority and expertise in itself.

      Simply snatching an article and spinning it, either manually or using software, is stealing, pure and simple. Just because an article passes Copyscape or some other software-based text comparison tool does not make it original.

      Like Lee said, though, it sounds like you are on the right track...
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      • Profile picture of the author Wealthyclark
        Just read the article and explain things in your own words, you should be fine
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        • Profile picture of the author Nigel Greaves
          Originally Posted by Wealthyclark View Post

          Just read the article and explain things in your own words, you should be fine
          That would assume the original article is correct and the author hadn't done just the same as you suggest.

          Anyone wanting to be a successful and professional writer needs to source their own facts from reputable sources and not article directories where internet marketers are following the "just re-write what you find on X article directory" gospel. Remember also many, if not most, of the articles on there are written by people who will write for peanuts so can you imagine how much time they put into research?

          John McCabe has given you the exact answer to how you become a writer with a professional reputation.

          Nigel
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          • Profile picture of the author sanssecret
            Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

            When I was in school, one of my profs told me, "steal from one source and it's plagiarism, steal from fifty sources and it's research."

            ...
            Clever professor.
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