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Old 12-31-2003, 04:15 AM   #1 (permalink)
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What does "[sic]" mean?

Topic says it all. I don't think I've ever saw the acronym before a few weeks ago and since then I've seen it probably 100+ times.

Maybe my knowing the meaning will answer my question, but is it just me or has this term been getting popular lately?
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Old 12-31-2003, 04:38 AM   #2 (permalink)
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said in context
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Old 12-31-2003, 04:57 AM   #3 (permalink)
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You use it to note that an error or oddity in something you're quoting was in the quote when you found it--that it's their error, not yours.

President George W. Bush today reported that "most people misunderestimate [sic] me."
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Old 12-31-2003, 05:47 AM   #4 (permalink)
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ah.. I see.. Why didn't I learn this in school... Now that I know what it means I'll go back to never seeing it.. happens every time

Thanks ratbastid and francis
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Old 12-31-2003, 06:08 AM   #5 (permalink)
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I wonder if it really means said in context or if it is a derivitive of a latin word:

sic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sk)
adv.

Thus; so. Used to indicate that a quoted passage, especially one containing an error or unconventional spelling, has been retained in its original form or written intentionally.


[Latin sc. See so- in Indo-European Roots.]
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Old 12-31-2003, 07:04 AM   #6 (permalink)
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I always wondered what that meant too. Thanx.
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Old 12-31-2003, 09:13 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Wow. Glad somebody asked this! I had always meant to find out what that meant!

Thanks!

PS: I love this quote/example:

Quote:
Originally posted by ratbastid
President George W. Bush today reported that "most people misunderestimate [sic] me."
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Old 12-31-2003, 11:35 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by aurigus
I wonder if it really means said in context or if it is a derivitive of a latin word:

sic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sk)
adv.

Thus; so. Used to indicate that a quoted passage, especially one containing an error or unconventional spelling, has been retained in its original form or written intentionally.


[Latin sc. See so- in Indo-European Roots.]
Useful way to remember it I suppose. Like people saying AD means After Death.
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Old 12-31-2003, 11:40 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Spartak
Useful way to remember it I suppose. Like people saying AD means After Death.
Just to let you know (If you didn't know already), means Anno Domini.
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Old 12-31-2003, 01:37 PM   #10 (permalink)
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i always though it meant (spelling incorrect)
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Old 12-31-2003, 03:06 PM   #11 (permalink)
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actually, it means "spelling is correct"

it's used after typing a word that appears to not be spelled correctly. Sometimes people will ask it as a question to be sure they spelled the word correctly.

Example:
I went to see a show from a group called The Mutaytor (sic)

Example 2:
I was just singing supercalifragilisticexpialodocious (sic?) and my mom walked in on me!
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Old 12-31-2003, 03:27 PM   #12 (permalink)
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I always took it to be used when quoting a person who said something wrong, or quoting something the way it was written, even though the way it was written was spelled incorrectly.

As if to say, "No, I am not fucking stupid, but this is how President Bush actually did write it, so, since I am quoting him, I must quote him as he said it, even though I know he's wrong."
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Old 12-31-2003, 03:29 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Halx
actually, it means "spelling is correct"

it's used after typing a word that appears to not be spelled correctly. Sometimes people will ask it as a question to be sure they spelled the word correctly.

Example:
I went to see a show from a group called The Mutaytor (sic)

Example 2:
I was just singing supercalifragilisticexpialodocious (sic?) and my mom walked in on me!
I don't think that's right. Aurigus is correct; it is Latin for the word "thus."

I've never seen "(sic?)" used if someone is not sure if they are spelling a word incorrectly; in that case, they use "(sp?)"
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Old 12-31-2003, 04:08 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Yeah you guys are right. [Sic] is when you're quoting someone who mispelled something in their original statement. By adding [sic] it doesn't make you look like a dumbass when quote Bush.
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Old 12-31-2003, 04:12 PM   #15 (permalink)
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"(sp?)" is only used correctly on the internet. I learned that the hard way when I incorporated it into a paper once. It is not a correct way to correct spelling. As far as I know, [sic] means "spelling is correct" for when you're quoting someone and they spelled something wrong.
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Old 12-31-2003, 05:36 PM   #16 (permalink)
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I am enlightened. This is one of those things I never thought to ask, but am pleased someone did. Thanks for clearing it up.
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Old 12-31-2003, 08:23 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Cool. I had a ballpark of what this was about, but it's good to get some solidarity with the meaning.

Thanks everyone
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Old 12-31-2003, 11:47 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Old 01-01-2004, 06:16 AM   #19 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by StormBerlin
"(sp?)" is only used correctly on the internet. I learned that the hard way when I incorporated it into a paper once. It is not a correct way to correct spelling.
You got that right! The correct way to correct spelling when you're writing something formal like a paper is with a dictionary.

Man. If I were grading a paper where somebody was too lazy to look up a word they were uncertain of, but instead included a cute little diacritical mark to tell me they KNEW they were uncertain of that word, it'd mean lost points for sure.
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Old 01-01-2004, 07:58 AM   #20 (permalink)
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Definitely Latin for thus, as in Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (Thus passes the glory of the world). Used (as many have pointed out) to denote an intentional error whilst quoting another source. Is NOT an abbreviation for anything else. As most of us are aware Latin words and abbreviations are very coomon in written English (ad hoc, ad inf., QED, etc.)

That said "Said In Context" or "Spelling Is Correct" are not terribly bad memory aids...
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Old 01-01-2004, 07:32 PM   #21 (permalink)
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and they said the Internet was bad for your language skills!
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Old 01-02-2004, 04:41 PM   #22 (permalink)
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I had the same questions about "i.e." and "eg." tillst I edumacated myself!
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Old 01-02-2004, 05:04 PM   #23 (permalink)
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Old 01-02-2004, 06:46 PM   #24 (permalink)
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::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.
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Old 01-02-2004, 07:06 PM   #25 (permalink)
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Thanks, I have always wondered about that.
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Old 01-03-2004, 01:59 PM   #26 (permalink)
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Ah, the advantages of a Liberal Arts education. Anyway, back to work:


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Old 01-03-2004, 11:16 PM   #27 (permalink)
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Well, you learn something everyday. I wasn't expecting to ever learn what that meant, but now I know. Thanks. It's always bothered me.
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Old 01-04-2004, 03:40 AM   #28 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by TM875
::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.

Glad we have that settled.
Just a point of clarification...

[sic] should be interpreted as "thus in the original" or "thus, this way" (and will be in a grammar book, regardless of what "most" think the s.i.c. correlates to )

The main point, however, is that it doesn't always indicate a spelling error. The problem can be grammatical, referring to a female author as "he," or just awkward sentence structure. Otherwise, you'll be searching for the damn word even when all are spelled correctly.

Edited for spelling
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Last edited by smooth; 01-04-2004 at 03:45 AM..
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Old 01-04-2004, 05:08 AM   #29 (permalink)
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Ratbastid speaks the truth. (Sorry to steal your quote redlemon, but it's so appropriate here )

[sic] is an amazing writer's tool that can make your point for you when you want to say 'the guy I'm quoting here is an idiot. I've used it several times in news stories I've written when quoting from an email or legislation.
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Old 01-05-2004, 05:05 AM   #30 (permalink)
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Thank You one and all for answering one of 'those' questions.

I guess I had a grasp of what it meant, but was never 100% certain.

The TFP saves the day again!
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Old 01-05-2004, 05:48 AM   #31 (permalink)
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Interesting...I always knew what it meant, but I never knew what it stood for. I feel all...I dunno...educated now.
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Old 01-05-2004, 05:55 AM   #32 (permalink)
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Old 01-05-2004, 08:54 AM   #33 (permalink)
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Re: What does "[sic]" mean?

Quote:
Originally posted by cybermike
I don't think I've ever saw the acronym before a few weeks ago and since then I've seen it probably 100+ times.
I really hate that, and i have no idea why it happened. It most recently happened with the word 'clique'; i saw it everywhere until i started using it.
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Old 01-05-2004, 01:29 PM   #34 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by mrquackers
Ratbastid speaks the truth. (Sorry to steal your quote redlemon, but it's so appropriate here )
I swell with pride each time I see someone using this phrase; it's like founding a cliche!
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Old 01-05-2004, 08:55 PM   #35 (permalink)
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Always wondered about that. It makes so much more sense now!
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Old 01-06-2004, 03:07 AM   #36 (permalink)
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I just marvel at the debate that such a small word can induce. This is why I like the TFP, so much information and so much sharing of it.
So, sic doesn't mean that the person your quoting is unwell? Seems some of you Yanks think that Bush is sic (sic).
 
Old 01-06-2004, 08:09 AM   #37 (permalink)
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you see it more often today because people don't know their English...

surprising how many folks in power can't read or write
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Old 01-06-2004, 01:39 PM   #38 (permalink)
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I get [sic] after too many beers. Latin or not, I still get [sic].
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Old 01-07-2004, 12:20 AM   #39 (permalink)
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I always wondered what that meant. That's one of the things I love about the internet: people just happen to mention what I've been too lazy to learn through conventional means.
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