What does "[sic]" mean??

Jschmuck2

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
5,623
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It usually follows a mistake in grammar. It means (essentially) "verbatim."

So if the quote was "then they shot at me from over their [sic]" it would look like that.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
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the power of google compels you!


sic1
(sik) pronunciation


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 sic.]
 
Jun 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: bladder23
When something is quoted, i sometimes see this inserted: [sic]

What does it mean?

It's usually inserted when there is a mistake (spelling or gramatical) in the quote to indicate that the error was original and not the fault of the author citing the quote.

 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
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I cant help but wonder if OPie is about 12. Wait, no, i knew that shit when i was 12. Maybe 8?
 

bladder23

Banned
Jun 28, 2007
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Oh OK, another english question:

What if a paragraph contained lots of mistakes? Do you just add lots of [sic]'s?
 

ChAoTiCpInOy

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2006
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So if you just want to just mess with everyone and make a lot of mistakes on purpose then put [sic], people would blame the author huh?
 

scott916

Platinum Member
Mar 2, 2005
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It means "Spelling in Context" which is used when quoting a source where the spelling is obviously incorrect.
 

Venix

Golden Member
Aug 22, 2002
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Originally posted by: scott916
It means "Spelling in Context" which is used when quoting a source where the spelling is obviously incorrect.

That's actually just a backronym. sic is Latin for "thus".
 

bladder23

Banned
Jun 28, 2007
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Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
So if you just want to just mess with everyone and make a lot of mistakes on purpose then put [sic], people would blame the author huh?

no, its for english class
 

DangerAardvark

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2004
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This was never taught to me in English class. I had to deduce its meaning after hours of confusion.
 

ChAoTiCpInOy

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2006
6,442
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Yeah, I never learned this in English class. I read it in an article once and was like they misspelled sick.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
This was never taught to me in English class. I had to deduce its meaning after hours of confusion.

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
Yeah, I never learned this in English class. I read it in an article once and was like they misspelled sick.

This sounds like a reflection of the poor quality of English classes...
 

bladder23

Banned
Jun 28, 2007
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Originally posted by: bladder23
Oh OK, another english question:

What if a paragraph contained lots of mistakes? Do you just add lots of [sic]'s?

So can anyone answer this question for me?
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
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Originally posted by: Kadarin
Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
This was never taught to me in English class. I had to deduce its meaning after hours of confusion.

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
Yeah, I never learned this in English class. I read it in an article once and was like they misspelled sick.

This sounds like a reflection of the poor quality of English classes...

Didn't you people have dictionaries?
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
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Originally posted by: Born2bwire
Originally posted by: Kadarin
Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
This was never taught to me in English class. I had to deduce its meaning after hours of confusion.

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
Yeah, I never learned this in English class. I read it in an article once and was like they misspelled sick.

This sounds like a reflection of the poor quality of English classes...

Didn't you people have dictionaries?

Seriously. I didn't learn this in English either, but I figured it out after about 30sec of googling.
 

Dessert Tears

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: bladder23
What if a paragraph contained lots of mistakes? Do you just add lots of [sic]'s?
For an entire paragraph, I would use a block quote and rely on the frequency of errors to indicate that the original author is responsible.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
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It usually means the person being quoted threw up during the quote. Example:

"I ate the chicken of the buffet no problem, and I feel.....I feel....[sic]."
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
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Someone not knowing what a clarifier is should be a reason to put them down?

Harsh.

God forbid you don't ask a question that you should know the answer to :roll:.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: Aikouka
Someone not knowing what a clarifier is should be a reason to put them down?

Harsh.

God forbid you don't ask a question that you should know the answer to :roll:.
Agreed.

QED - something else I never really learned when it should be used. The main usage I know of for this term was in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and one example isn't really a good way of learning proper usage.