Original sentence: Academics and popular entertainment use "conspiracy theory" as the name of a type of eccentric folklore similar to urban legend, having certain regular features.In many cases, believers or proponents of a particular account reject the classification of their belief or theory as "conspiracy theory folklore or rumor", leading to controversy over proper classification.It may be considered improper to dismissively categorize a competing theory or viewpoint as folklore or belief as that may thwart or discourage a scientific and factual analysis.One definition of "conspiracy theory" is a hypothesis that explains the cause of an event as a secret, and often deceptive, plot by a covert alliance rather than as an overt activity or natural occurrence.The term can be used to label any hypothesis or theory that simply alleges a conspiracy or group secretly working together.The term is ambiguous and pejorative when someone uses it, often subtly, to dismissively categorize an actual theory or conjecture, that coincidentally alleges a conspiracy, as an example of "conspiracy theory" folklore or rumor.The term or phrase is sometimes used pejoratively to label and therefore dismiss what are represented as being eccentric, paranoid or outlandish rumors
Edited sentence: A conspiracy theory is a hypothesis that explains the cause of an event as a secret, and often deceptive, plot by a covert alliance rather than as an overt activity or natural occurrence.Academics use "conspiracy theory" as a term to identify a type of folklore similar to the urban legend, having certain regular features.Casually, it is sometimes used pejoratively to label and therefore dismiss allegedly misconceived, paranoid or outlandish rumors.In almost all cases, believers in a particular account vigorously reject the classification of their belief as a conspiracy theory, leading to controversy over legitimate uses of the term.It may be considered improper to dismissively categorize a competing theory or viewpoint as folklore or rumor as that may discourage a scientific and factual analysis