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pat3ck · Jan 29, 2009, 22:53

I would just like to know because if I'll consider my articles as unique if I just re-wrote something.

Thank you. Hope to hear from someone soon.

Pat

Dan Grossman · Jan 29, 2009, 23:02

What value are you adding to the web by rewriting what's already there?

If you're rewriting your own past work, you're wasting time.

If you're rewriting someone else's work, you're infringing their copyright, which is both legally and morally wrong.

felgall · Jan 29, 2009, 23:19

If you rewrite anything entirely in your own words then it will be unique.

If you rewrite about 75% of a Private label Rights Article to use different words then it will be unique.

Rewriting your own work will depend on how much you change it.

Generally you should be looking at combining information from at least two or three different sources when rewriting something in order that the new article actually adds value to what was there before.

pat3ck · Jan 29, 2009, 23:28

Thanks Stephen.

Great suggestion, looks like I'll do that. So at least it could add value to what's already there.

Divisive Cotton · Jan 29, 2009, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by pat3ck

I would just like to know because if I'll consider my articles as unique if I just re-wrote something.

Thank you. Hope to hear from someone soon.

Pat

As as been wrote before, it depends on what you are re-writing.

I often come up with an idea of an article and then write a number of different versions of the article for publication in different places - so I guess that's kinda rewriting.

tke71709 · Jan 30, 2009, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divisive Cotton

I often come up with an idea of an article and then write a number of different versions of the article for publication in different places - so I guess that's kinda rewriting.

That's just smart writing, professional freelance writers need to do this sort of thing to survive.

Do research on a topic, spin it for different audiences and then pitch it to various buyers and hopefully sell multiple versions based on the same research time.

ReadingBuddy · Jan 30, 2009, 08:06

The notion of "value added" is critical here.

An article on the Alternative Minimum Tax originally written for CPAs might be totally over the heads of my neighbors and me. We would place substantial value on a re-write that brought the prose down to the level of a layperson.

And if my first language was Spanish, Vietnamese, or Japanese, and I was a candidate for the AMT, then having a re-write in Spanish, Vietnamese or Japanese would be a God-send.

TeddyP · Feb 3, 2009, 11:51

Re-writing is fine I think, if it adds value - basically what the guy above me is saying.

My business partner and I recently had Ezine contact us saying that our article was attributed to another author. So we contacted this author by email and he claims the articles are completely different and my partner's article just inspired him. Honestly, there was about 75 words..not percent..WORDS, that were different.

In an instance like that - no it isn't good and or original.

lewisdb · Feb 3, 2009, 15:15

Nope!

If you start with c*&p and re word it guess what you end up with?

Smart-Guy · Feb 7, 2009, 07:29

Never use softwares to rewrite contents. Manual rewriting is the best and it will produce good results if you have a knack in English writing. What is important is the ability to be simple, unique and attract the attention of the visitors by your contents.

reboltutorial · Feb 7, 2009, 08:33

Unique ? It depends of the viewpoint but the common viewpoint is that your article is unique in the sense "original" that is your ideas workflow is truly your creation not plagiarism; if you just re-phrase something so that a sophisticated software could also do it, it's not really unique.

infomarker50 · Feb 7, 2009, 12:00

Their are alot of ideas behind plagerism. Plus this depends on what you are doing for. Some google fodder is one thing. Trying to plagerise someones work so you can get a PHD might be a worse idea.

flashgordonweb · Feb 8, 2009, 09:46

Rewriting is tricky. If you are just going for more content without getting any duplicate slap, then it is not that hard. However, you still want to make sure you are adding value or putting the article into your own words. Otherwise, it is generally considered plagiarism and frowned upon (unless you are rewriting your own stuff).

HamishG-PDL · Feb 9, 2009, 16:17

I s'pose it depends on what you call unique. But I can't see that rewriting, by definition, can ever be truly unique. And I wonder what the goal is...

Assuming we are talking about saying the same thing in a different way then:

Rewriting others' content and presenting it as your own is not ok... Plagiarism, Copyright infringement...
Significant effort to rewrite to avoid duplicate content issues with search engines is wasted effort if the duplication is legit... If it isn't then you shouldn't be doing it.

There is a disturbing amount of "if you change this much then..." in this thread for me. Uniqueness in content is not about the combinations of words or passing copyscape...

As I just blogged*, I think the issues touched on here point to a regrettable attitude to content which combines attaching insufficient value to content and looking for shortcuts... An attitude to content evident in the rewriting jobs on freelancer sites -- "I have 50 articles I need rewritten for $3 each".

*Sorry can't link to my blog as I am a newby here.

weblover50 · Feb 10, 2009, 10:41

Yes I will consider.Just verify with copyscape.If it passes copyscape then yes the article is unique.

juries23 · Feb 15, 2009, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Grossman

What value are you adding to the web by rewriting what's already there?

If you're rewriting your own past work, you're wasting time.

If you're rewriting someone else's work, you're infringing their copyright, which is both legally and morally wrong.

If you add the sources from what article came from, it was not infringement.

janice2009 · Feb 16, 2009, 03:07

You've open up a good point. Yes it would be unique, but not authentic.

Shyflower · Feb 16, 2009, 06:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by juries23

If you add the sources from what article came from, it was not infringement.

Citing sources doesn't protect you from copyright infringement. If you are rewriting someone else's work without their permission you are still guilty. Original work that cites sources contains the thoughts of the author that have come from his/her cited sources, it is not just a rehash of what another author wrote.

Before you give advice, get your ducks in a row and make sure it's correct.

baybossplaya · Feb 17, 2009, 19:44

rewriting is ok as long as you take from different sources and create a good one. if you think about it, pretty much all news is rewritten from one source.

salahsoft · Feb 18, 2009, 02:48

If there is value addition more than 25% then its unique.

Shyflower · Feb 18, 2009, 06:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by salahsoft

If there is value addition more than 25% then its unique.

Exactly where did you come up with your percentage or is it just an example of your estimated opinion? I fail to read any percentage in copyright law and find no allusion to "value added".

elhusseiny · Feb 18, 2009, 11:56

Some simple rewriting is not enough, I think rewiriting articles would consume time more than write a new one.

smurphy · Feb 18, 2009, 15:16

When I am involved in the education field, just rewording is unacceptable. You can take the material and use various material from other works to create a totally new work. Anything else is just laziness.

salahsoft · Feb 18, 2009, 21:54

I just expressed my opinion. There is actually no law or rule that states any guideline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shyflower

Exactly where did you come up with your percentage or is it just an example of your estimated opinion? I fail to read any percentage in copyright law and find no allusion to "value added".

Mindylane · Feb 18, 2009, 23:23

I think it depends... if you're just changing around words from another article, than no. But sometimes if I take interesting in a topic, I will research multiple articles with similar topics and integrate them to produce something a little different than all of the originals, so that I can come to a different conclusion in the end, so I think it makes it a little more worthwhile for a passerby to read

Jan 29, 2009, 22:53	#1
pat3ck SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 35	Do you consider a re-written article unique? I would just like to know because if I'll consider my articles as unique if I just re-wrote something. Thank you. Hope to hear from someone soon. Pat

Feb 9, 2009, 16:17	#14
HamishG-PDL SitePoint Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 12	I s'pose it depends on what you call unique. But I can't see that rewriting, by definition, can ever be truly unique. And I wonder what the goal is... Assuming we are talking about saying the same thing in a different way then: Rewriting others' content and presenting it as your own is not ok... Plagiarism, Copyright infringement... Significant effort to rewrite to avoid duplicate content issues with search engines is wasted effort if the duplication is legit... If it isn't then you shouldn't be doing it. There is a disturbing amount of "if you change this much then..." in this thread for me. Uniqueness in content is not about the combinations of words or passing copyscape... As I just blogged, I think the issues touched on here point to a regrettable attitude to content which combines attaching insufficient value to content and looking for shortcuts... An attitude to content evident in the rewriting jobs on freelancer sites -- "I have 50 articles I need rewritten for $3 each". Sorry can't link to my blog as I am a newby here.

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Jan 29, 2009, 23:02	#2
Dan Grossman Follow Me On Twitter: @djg Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Philadephia, PA Posts: 18,683	What value are you adding to the web by rewriting what's already there? If you're rewriting your own past work, you're wasting time. If you're rewriting someone else's work, you're infringing their copyright, which is both legally and morally wrong.

Jan 29, 2009, 23:19	#3
felgall SitePoint Mentor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,611	If you rewrite anything entirely in your own words then it will be unique. If you rewrite about 75% of a Private label Rights Article to use different words then it will be unique. Rewriting your own work will depend on how much you change it. Generally you should be looking at combining information from at least two or three different sources when rewriting something in order that the new article actually adds value to what was there before.

Jan 29, 2009, 23:28	#4
pat3ck SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 35	Thanks Stephen. Great suggestion, looks like I'll do that. So at least it could add value to what's already there.

Jan 30, 2009, 08:06	#7
ReadingBuddy SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Florida USA Posts: 46	The notion of "value added" is critical here. An article on the Alternative Minimum Tax originally written for CPAs might be totally over the heads of my neighbors and me. We would place substantial value on a re-write that brought the prose down to the level of a layperson. And if my first language was Spanish, Vietnamese, or Japanese, and I was a candidate for the AMT, then having a re-write in Spanish, Vietnamese or Japanese would be a God-send.

Feb 3, 2009, 11:51	#8
TeddyP SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 148	Re-writing is fine I think, if it adds value - basically what the guy above me is saying. My business partner and I recently had Ezine contact us saying that our article was attributed to another author. So we contacted this author by email and he claims the articles are completely different and my partner's article just inspired him. Honestly, there was about 75 words..not percent..WORDS, that were different. In an instance like that - no it isn't good and or original.

Feb 3, 2009, 15:15	#9
lewisdb SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 104	Nope! If you start with c*&p and re word it guess what you end up with?

Feb 7, 2009, 07:29	#10
Smart-Guy SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 129	Never use softwares to rewrite contents. Manual rewriting is the best and it will produce good results if you have a knack in English writing. What is important is the ability to be simple, unique and attract the attention of the visitors by your contents.

Feb 7, 2009, 08:33	#11
reboltutorial SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 189	Unique ? It depends of the viewpoint but the common viewpoint is that your article is unique in the sense "original" that is your ideas workflow is truly your creation not plagiarism; if you just re-phrase something so that a sophisticated software could also do it, it's not really unique.

Feb 7, 2009, 12:00	#12
infomarker50 SitePoint Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	Their are alot of ideas behind plagerism. Plus this depends on what you are doing for. Some google fodder is one thing. Trying to plagerise someones work so you can get a PHD might be a worse idea.

Feb 8, 2009, 09:46	#13
flashgordonweb SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains Posts: 119	Rewriting is tricky. If you are just going for more content without getting any duplicate slap, then it is not that hard. However, you still want to make sure you are adding value or putting the article into your own words. Otherwise, it is generally considered plagiarism and frowned upon (unless you are rewriting your own stuff).

Feb 10, 2009, 10:41	#15
weblover50 SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 86	Yes I will consider.Just verify with copyscape.If it passes copyscape then yes the article is unique.

Feb 16, 2009, 03:07	#17
janice2009 SitePoint Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23	You've open up a good point. Yes it would be unique, but not authentic.

Feb 17, 2009, 19:44	#19
baybossplaya SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 71	rewriting is ok as long as you take from different sources and create a good one. if you think about it, pretty much all news is rewritten from one source.

Feb 18, 2009, 02:48	#20
salahsoft Non-Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Posts: 93	If there is value addition more than 25% then its unique.

Feb 18, 2009, 11:56	#22
elhusseiny Non-Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 119	Some simple rewriting is not enough, I think rewiriting articles would consume time more than write a new one.

Feb 18, 2009, 15:16	#23
smurphy SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 38	When I am involved in the education field, just rewording is unacceptable. You can take the material and use various material from other works to create a totally new work. Anything else is just laziness.

Feb 18, 2009, 23:23	#25
Mindylane SitePoint Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 13	I think it depends... if you're just changing around words from another article, than no. But sometimes if I take interesting in a topic, I will research multiple articles with similar topics and integrate them to produce something a little different than all of the originals, so that I can come to a different conclusion in the end, so I think it makes it a little more worthwhile for a passerby to read