where does the term "[sic]" in writing come from?

Asked by nomtastic (979

) January 5th, 2007

i know that this term is latin for something, and indicates the inclusion of something the author recognizes as incorrect, but what is the source??

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From etymonline.com: 1887, insertion in printed quotation to call attention to error in the original, from L. sic "so, thus," related to si "if," from PIE base *so- "this, that" (cf. O.E. sio "she"). I hope that helps!

brownlemur (4086

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic

ben (9080

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i always thought it was just "spelling in context" like someone made an error and the person who printed it left it like that and called the writer out so they wouldn't feel dumb.... did i make that up?

emilyrose (2272

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If you quote someone, you have to quote him/her exactly, but when there are spelling (and sometimes synax {sic} errors) and you are a hoity-toity publication, ie: NYT, WA Post, New Yorker, you want the world to know that you have caught the error.

gailcalled (54644

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For example, when one is quoting Bush's off-the-cuff speeches or ad-libs, there is no question of spelling errors, but there sure are issues of various usage, neologisms, diction, etc.

gailcalled (54644

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There is the famous Latin tag;

gailcalled (54644

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Sic transit gloria mundi; so goes the glory of the world.

gailcalled (54644

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