Question about lifting phrases from other sources.

S. L. Hill · Post by **S. L. Hill** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:46 pm

I don't want to bother CC with a question about why my article was rejected. I'm new and I have a lot to learn, so I thought I'd ask some people who have been with CC for awhile. My article was rejected with a note: [quote]We do not accept articles that lift phrases from other sources. Do not resubmit.[/quote]

I submitted an article on thumb sucking and included information from the American Dental Association. I indicated that the information was from the ADA and listed ADA's reasons for thumb sucking. Is this what CC means? I can't list information from a website. (I did not include a link to the website, I only said "According to..."). Does CC also reject for using quotes by sources?

I read a couple articles from top authors and note that they don't reference anyone. I have read the Writers' Guidelines but can't find anything about that. Could someone shed some light on this. I would greatly appreciate it.
Sharon

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:08 pm

I can't say what the editor's criteria is about this but I can guess...

Did you say, "According to ___," and then list a bunch of their stuff verbatim? Maybe paraphrasing would've been a better choice.

I know there are concerns about "fair use" laws. Apparently you can borrow phrases if they are properly cited and consistently used according to these fair use laws. However if they are used too liberally and the article contains too many "borrowed" phrases, you could get into hot water.

One website I write for tells us that "common knowledge" facts do not need to be cited. You wouldn't need to cite a common fact like, "People breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide."

Facts that are published as the result of a writer's individual research are considered their intellectual property and should be cited. For example, if a scientist conducts a study and publishes his conclusions, you would need to properly cite the source.

I don't think you can get away with using large chunks of copied information, even if properly cited.

S. L. Hill · Post by **S. L. Hill** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:37 pm

Thank you for your insight Celeste. I'm always afraid I'm going to use something that should have been in quotes. So much has been written by so many people that there are very few ways to write without sounding like someone else. I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my question. I'll just keep plugging.
Sharon

cbhrbooth · Post by **cbhrbooth** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:29 pm

Sharon wrote:[quote]So much has been written by so many people that there are very few ways to write without sounding like someone else.[/quote]

Sharon - Hope you don't mind me jumping into your conversation here but I've run into the same problem as you have over the past year as I write short (200-300 word) articles for a print publication. The editor doesn't want quoted or cited material, unless she specifically requests it. However, most of the topics are on the same-old, same-old and tend to lend themselves to factoid-type articles.

What has worked for me is to begin my research by reading three or four typical treatments on the subject, figure out a slant that isn't overdone and carve out an article. (I know that isn't a break-through approach, but it took [i]me [/i] a while to figure it out.

)

The material is essentially the same, but woven through the piece a little differently.

Just how I've worked this. . .
Good luck!
Mary B.

Kat DeLong · Post by **Kat DeLong** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:02 pm

I had a similar thing happen to me recently. I had a rejection because the article was too similar to others out there. I tried to fix it, but because I wasn't sure which part was being referenced and couldn't find another way to organize it, I just let that one go.

What I usually do when I'm researching is to take what I call "keyword" notes. I don't write down sentences, just individual words that will jog my memory when I'm actually writing the article. This way (usually) I can avoid lifting phrases directly from other sources that are already out there on the subject.

Good luck on this.
Kat

janewinstead · Post by **janewinstead** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:33 am

Kat -- thanks for a good suggestion. I have had a couple of rejections because I had phrases too similar to others about the same subject.

I am also from Northern California. Just where are you?

Jane

S. L. Hill · Post by **S. L. Hill** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:00 pm

Thank you all for the tips on lifting phrases. I will definitely use your advice.
Sharon

Kat DeLong · Post by **Kat DeLong** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:37 pm

Hi Jane,
I'm fairly close to you - San Leandro (right next to Oakland).
Kat

janewinstead · Post by **janewinstead** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:21 pm

Wow, small world. We also have a place in Calaveras County so we are here this week. Going home tomorrow. My e-mail address is janie1127 at comcast.net if you ever want to e-mail me. I guess it is allowed to exchange e-mail addresses. I haven't seen anything about not doing it.

Jane

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