::sigh:: This is why we still need to teach Latin in schools.
Okay, first, [sic] is the latin word for "thus". You guys are right. Typically, most interpret it to mean [spelling in context], meaning just that - the spelling that was used by the author of the quote.
The (sp) appreviation is used in proofreading. It IS correct to use outside of the internet, just so long as you're correcting a paper. Only a complete dumbass would actually type it into a paper to allow the professor to realize that said student can't spell.
Sometimes (sp?) is used to politely point out to the writer of the paper that he can't spell the word correctly, or used by a teacher in correcting the paper to sacrastically remind the author that he needs to use a dictionary.
Glad we have that settled.
