You have probably read some literature written at least in part by a "ghostwriter." The professional writing industry accepts this practice, but some people see the proliferation of this as degrading the trust between the author and reader.

Identification

Ghostwriting occurs when somebody writes a work, but it gets published under another person or entity's name, according to Worldwide Freelance Writer. Both parties must agree to a ghostwriting treatment.

Commonality

Ghostwriting happens very frequently, especially with famous celebrities who are not known as authors. Ronald Reagan, for example, had his autobiography ghostwritten by Robert Lindsey, reports Worldwide Freelance Writer.

Benefits

Robert Fulford of the National Post states that ghostwriting allows a person who feels his writing skills are inadequate to articulate his ideas through the words of another person.

Features

Ghostwriting does not just mean giving your work to someone else. Ghostwriters must express the client's opinion in the desired voice and have the skill to find out what the client expects the final piece to look like, reports Worldwide Freelance Writer.

Gray Areas

Ghostwriting often has ethical and legal complications. Medical journal articles, for example, sometimes use a professional researcher's name, but have most of the research and the article on a topic written by a third party contracted out by a for-profit business, reports the Montreal Gazette.

Source:

WorldwideFreelance.com; What is a Ghostwriter?

National Post; Robert Fulford: Ghostwriting is Cynical, Ethically Dubious

The Montreal Gazette; McGill Professor Caught in Ghostwriting Scandal