The spelling of the word "sic" may seem unusual, but it is in fact derived from the Latin word "sic" which means "thus" or "so." In IPA phonetic transcription, "sic" is pronounced as /sɪk/. It is commonly used within brackets in written text to indicate that a quoted passage contains a spelling or grammatical error, and that such error appears exactly or deliberately in the original source. This use is intended to convey to the reader that the error is not a mistake of the subsequent writer or editor.
"Sic" is an adverb frequently used to indicate that a quoted or reproduced word or phrase is reproduced exactly as it appears in the original source, despite any perceived errors or unconventional usage. The purpose of "sic" is to alert the reader to the fact that the word or phrase in question is not a mistake or typographical error introduced by the person quoting or reproducing the material. Originating from the Latin adverb "sic," meaning "so" or "thus," "sic" is often employed to ensure accuracy in reproducing text, especially when the original contains grammatical, spelling, punctuation, or contextual errors.
Typically enclosed in square brackets, the term "sic" acts as an editorial marker, signaling that the preceding word or passage is being reproduced verbatim. While its primary usage is in the realm of journalism and academic writing, "sic" may also be found in legal texts or historical documents. Additionally, "sic" can be utilized humorously or pejoratively to draw attention to an error or unconventional usage for ironic effect or to mock a speaker or writer.
In summary, "sic" is an adverb used as an editorial notation to indicate the intentional reproduction of a quoted or reproduced word or phrase exactly as it appears in the original source. It serves to denote that any apparent mistake or unconventional usage is not an error committed by the person using "sic," emphasizing the accuracy and faithfulness to the original text during transcription or quoting.
Thus; a word sometimes used in quoting from another author in order to call attention to the fact that the quotation is rightly given.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sic" is a Latin term that has been adopted into English. It is derived from the Latin adverb "sic", which means "thus" or "so". In written or printed texts, "sic" is used to indicate that an error or unusual feature in the original text has been intentionally retained in a quote or passage. It is commonly used to denote that the error or unconventional usage is not a mistake on the part of the person quoting the text but is present in the source being referenced.