Sic is a Latin word used in print to indicate accurate reproduction, especially in transcripts. It can also be used for strange spellings or errors in old printed materials. It is often used dismissively to point out errors and can be used for ridicule.
Sic is a Latin word that means “thus” or “thus”. It is often used in print to indicate that something has been reproduced accurately, especially in transcripts. When used in print, this word is usually placed in square brackets, like this: (sic). The use of parentheses indicates that the word is not part of the original quotation or printed material, but rather that it has been added. Parentheses are also sometimes used for corrections.
A common use of sic is in renderings of text with strange spellings. Spelling in the English language is not yet widely standardized, with some spellings appearing peculiar to people in some places while totally normal in others. The word is also used in reproductions or transcripts of old printed materials; the United States Constitution, for example, contains a number of things that appear to modern readers to be spelling and grammatical errors, although they were perfectly acceptable at the time.
Many publications use sic somewhat dismissively, to point out an error. For example, a newspaper might say, “Jones stated in his book that ‘it is (sic) unlikely that we will see a change in this policy,'” rather than simply correcting the error. A quote like this can also be a case for parentheses, which would be used like this: “Jones states in his book that ‘(it is) unlikely that we will see a change in this policy.’” In either case, the seemingly innocent the parentheses call attention to a common grammatical error, implying to the reader that Jones may not be an entirely reliable authority.
Sic is often used in verbatim transcripts of speeches or in quotations from other printed material. The use of the word alerts readers to the fact that the apparent error is merely being reproduced and is not the fault of the publisher. Many authors pride themselves on reporting things as they are said, errors and all, and their publications are often littered with the term.
In addition to sic, some publishers also use the term “queer but fair” or “sth” in much the same way, indicating that even if something seems wrong, it really isn’t. Qc is often used by publishers when marking up text for the composer, to ensure that these errors are not corrected by overzealous typographers.
There are lots of fun ways to use (sic) in text, especially if you happen to be quoting someone you don’t particularly like, as the appearance of (sic) in a quote carries all sorts of implications. For example, when a politician says something extraordinarily stupid, adding a (sic) to the quote when it’s printed can be a way to illustrate the stupidity without commenting on it outright. The use of (sic) for ridicule is quite common and Latino geeks often enjoy it.
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