# easy one: what does \[sic\] mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609 "2003-11-11T14:09:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/1 "2003-11-11T14:09:31Z")
As in the middle of a quote? ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/2 "2003-11-11T14:13:01Z")
[sic] is used to denote a mistake in the original quote. I have no idea what it means though… ---
**Author:** ![heater2000ca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@heater2000ca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heater2000ca)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/3 "2003-11-11T14:17:23Z")
It’s sort of like saying “This is really what the person said, this isn’t a typo/mistake from the original quote” See the first definition here: [http://www.wordreference.com/english/definition.asp?en=sic](http://www.wordreference.com/english/definition.asp?en=sic) ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/4 "2003-11-11T14:17:26Z")
It’s used to indicate that a seeming error in a quote is _supposed_ to be that way. “We was [sic] headed back from the Wal-Mart when we saw the tornado headed toward our trailer.” The use of [sic] indicated that the error was included intentionally. It’s a way for the editors to say “We’re not stupid.” or “We meant to do that.” ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/5 "2003-11-11T14:19:00Z")
I believe it’s latin for ‘thus’. But all you need to know is what Angua said. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/6 "2003-11-11T14:37:46Z")
“Sic” may be translated as “thus” or “such”. “Sic semper tyrannis” is generally rendered as “thus ever to tyrants”, and “sice transit gloria” as “such glory is fleeting”. In effect one is saying “such is the way I found it” when adding it to a quote. It is an abbreviated way of saying “Hey, don’t blame me–it was like that when I got here”. In practice, it is often a snide way of trying to look superior to whomever one is quoting. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/7 "2003-11-11T14:55:15Z")
American Heritage Dictionary defines “sic” as follows: > [@](#): > > \*sic adv. Thus; so. Used in written texts to indicate that a surprising or paradoxical word, phrase, or fact is not a mistake and is to be read as it stands. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![jimdigritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@jimdigritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimdigritz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/8 "2003-11-11T15:14:40Z")
I always thought it stood for “spelling is correct”, to indicate an originally misspelt quote/cite ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/9 "2003-11-11T15:35:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slipster \* > **"sice transit gloria" as “such glory is fleeting”./** More common is the saying “sic transit gloria mundi”: thus worldy fame passes. Or words to that effect. The ‘sic’ here is meant to refer to ‘transit’, not to ‘glory’. At least that is how I understood it. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slipster \* > \*\*In practice, it is often a snide way of trying to look superior to whomever one is quoting. \*\* Maybe so in common discourse (such as on a message board). When writing scientific work, though, it is unavoidable. Otherwise people _are_ going to assume that _you_ made a mistake, or you will be forcing them to look up the original text to find out who made the mistake. It is common courtesy to the reader to use [sic]. IIRC I had to use it once to ensure that the editor wouldn’t ‘correct’ the quote, which contained an old-fashioned turn of phrase. Science is all about correcting the errors of your predecessors. It doesn’t make one look superior: we are dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants. Wasn’t it Newton who said that? ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/10 "2003-11-11T18:52:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jimdigritz \* > \*\*I always thought it stood for “spelling is correct”, to indicate an originally misspelt quote/cite \*\* Watchya gots there, **jim** is a _backronym_, more properly called by linguists a _back-formation_. An “unknown” word gets re-interpreted as an acronym. E.g., BASIC, the computer language, is another one. The real meaning of the term is forgotten by a segment, which then comes up with a reasonable-sounding acronym to explain the term. **samclem** will probably correct my use of the term, and provide more information, if he happens by. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/11 "2003-11-11T19:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jimdigritz \* > \*\*I always thought it stood for “spelling is correct”, to indicate an originally misspelt quote/cite \*\* That is definitely not correct. This pop etymology was once probably a mnemonic for remembering what [sic] generally meant. While there are valid uses for [sic] as mentioned above, it also can be used snidely (also as mentioned above). For the snide use, imagine you pointing out your debating opponent’s typo or complete wrong fact by the use of a rolleyes, as in… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by blatherer_ > **I never mispell :rolleyes: anything!** And so, you can, in a psuedo genteel way do it this way… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by blatherer_ > **I never mispell [sic] anything!** So, avoid using [sic] in that way, unless you really want to be snarky. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/12 "2003-11-11T19:55:04Z")
Well, **sinical** [sic] **brit** , I hoped this helped. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/13 "2003-11-12T00:27:11Z")
definition of sic = I disagree with this person, but I don’t have much in the way of counter-argument, so I will point out his spelling error in a desperate attempt to make his point sound less convincing. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/14 "2003-11-12T04:08:54Z")
It’s not just used for spelling errors. Example: Bob wrote a report titled, “George Bush, President of the United Kingdom” [sic]. (Assuming Bob wasn’t make some kind of joke and in fact either truly thinks GB is president of the UK or just made a careless mistake.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/15 "2003-11-12T05:38:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by paperbackwriter \* > \*\*Watchya gots there, **jim** is a _backronym_, more properly called by linguists a _back-formation_. An “unknown” word gets re-interpreted as an acronym. E.g., BASIC, the computer language, is another one. \*\* Can you provide a cite for this? Because everything I’ve read about this, including statements by Kameny & Kurtz, the originators of BASIC say that this name started out as an acronym for Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. And while that name may have been chosen to create a nice sounding acronym, it does not seem to qualify as a back-formation. (Saying that it stands for Bill’s Attempt to Seize Industry Control _is_ a back-formation, probably an intentional one.) ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/16 "2003-11-12T06:10:01Z")
For a good discussion of the widespread use of “(sic)” in lame attempts to appear superior, see satirist Michael O’Donaghue’s essaby **How to Write Good** ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/17 "2003-11-12T13:15:40Z")
In a high school economics class, I quoted from some economics journal. The article I quoted was about how national deficit was viewed as some mysterious monstor, and it was titled “Thedeficit” [sic]. Except I didn’t use “[sic]” and got marked down for “my” mistake. So that’s one example of a situation where “[sic]” is necessary, and not because I’m trying to appear superior. ---
**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/18 "2003-11-12T13:50:59Z")
well cheers people, i’ve always wanted to know that - my sister who has a 2:1 degree in English didnt know ! SD truely is a quality resource. Ta muchly sinical ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/19 "2003-11-12T15:24:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tusculan \* > \*\*Science is all about correcting the errors of your predecessors. It doesn’t make one look superior: we are dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants. Wasn’t it Newton who said that? \*\* "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ - Sir Isaac Newton “If I have seen further, it is because I have been surrounded by dwarfs.” - Murray Gell-Mann ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609/20 "2003-11-12T16:14:30Z")
This is a different general question, but is [sic] really used snidely more often than not? I can’t recall seeing it being used improperly; have I just forgetful, or lucky in what I read? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-one-what-does-sic-mean/212609.md?page=2)