Biting can first be categorized into two types...verbatim and non-verbatim.
Verbatim biting..as in someone using a whole line or more that matches someone else's word for word---is ruled as a clear bite. Automatic infraction.
Non-verbatim is when it's not word for word, but may still contain the same wordplay, metaphor, concept, or any combination of these. Each one can be looked at differently. When it's only the same wordplay, or only the metaphor, or only the concept that is similar, it's usually harder to conclude that it is a bite. These are usually assessed primarily on the basis of the wordplay/metaphor/concept's uniqueness. Is it something that would be easy for anyone to think of (as in would it be one of the first things most people would think of if they were trying to make a wordplay/metaphor/concept with "x")? <<---It usually takes several people with battling experience to determine this. The more unique it is, the more chances it could be deemed a bite. The less unique it is, the more likely it would be deemed "played" rather than a bite. When a person has any combination of wordplay/metaphor/concept and not just one of those that matches another person's verse, then it starts to look a lot more like a bite...no matter how differently they reworded it. For example, it's one thing to happen to think of the same wordplay as somebody else (we've probably all been guilty of that at one point or another), but what are the chances of thinking of both the same wordplay AND the same metaphor and using them together in a line---just like somebody else did?
Swaying is making any comment about an open, ongoing battle, either on the battle page itself or elsewhere, which can be seen as an argument that one of the battlers should win or lose the battle.
Dickriding is when you vote for someone for any reason other than that they won the battle.
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