What does it mean when somebody uses <sic> in a sentence/quote?

vi edit

Elite Member
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Oct 28, 1999
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I've seen this done several times, but I'm not sure what it means.

 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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In a quotation it indicates that a mistake was present in the original and has been reproduced verbatim.
 

vi edit

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<< Spelling InCorrect >>



That's what I thought, but wasn't certain of. I thought it maybe had to do with sarcasm also.
 

perry

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Apr 7, 2000
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Main Entry: 3sic
Pronunciation: 'sik, 'sEk
Function: adverb
Etymology: Latin, so, thus -- more at SO
Date: circa 1859
: intentionally so written -- used after a printed word or passage to indicate that it is intended exactly as printed or to indicate that it exactly reproduces an original <said he seed [sic] it all>

The way I understand it is that you write something knowing it's incorrect, and you put <sic> there to show you know it's wrong, but that's just the way things are.

ex: University<sic> of Georgia. U<sic>GA. The school newspaper here at Georgia Tech does that all the time.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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It's not supposed to be sarcastic, but you do see people using it that way at times. It should be used when quoting where a grammatical, spelling or factual error was present in the original, and using (sic) indicates the error is recognized.
 

yakko

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Apr 18, 2000
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<< I did not have to ask and feel stupid >>

Do you just naturally feel stupid?
/runs for cover.
 

UG

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Oct 9, 1999
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<sic> means:

With a straw you only leave behind the big pieces.

:p
 

Dunbar

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Feb 19, 2001
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Say if you were quoting the following:

&quot;Markus went too <sic> the gym to work out.&quot;

The &quot;sic&quot; is there to show you recognize the grammatical error. Basically, it points out that you did not make the error and are just quoting verbatim. You would do that with any typo, grammatical or factual error.
 

konichiwa

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Original Quote: Lots of times my mom and me would go fishing.

My quotation: &quot;Lots of times my mom and me[sic] would go fishing.&quot;