Using [sic] Properly
Sic is a Latin term used to indicate that something incorrectly written is intentionally being left as it was in the original. Sic is usually italicized and always surrounded by brackets to indicate that it was not part of the original. Place [sic] right after the error.
Example: She wrote, “They made there [sic] beds.”
Note: The correct sentence should have been, “They made their beds.”
Why use [sic] at all? Why not just make the correction? If you are quoting material, it is generally expected that you will transcribe it exactly as it appeared in the original.
The word sic is also a command to attack (used especially in commanding a dog). The past tense is either sicced or sicked.
Examples: Sic ‘em, Fido. Fido sicced (or sicked) the burglar.
Note: With this meaning, the word is not italicized or enclosed in brackets.
Be careful, however, because the word sick, meaning ill, is also a homonym of sic.
Example: Ananda felt sick with the flu yesterday.
Quiz
Place [sic] where needed.
1. I can lend you no more then ten dollars.
2. Who’s turn is it to speak?
3. I don’t know witch way to turn.
4. How did the weather effect your vacation plans?
5. Don’t you think that every one should attend the meeting?
Answers
1. I can lend you no more then [sic] ten dollars. (than)
2. Who’s [sic] turn is it to speak? (Whose)
3. I don’t know witch [sic] way to turn. (which)
4. How did the weather effect [sic] your vacation plans? (affect)
5. Don’t you think that every one [sic] should attend the meeting? (everyone)
Posted on Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
10 Responses to “Using [sic] Properly”
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If the same mistake is made several times in a document – in this case eight times in a long paragraph – is it proper to put [sic] behind every one or just behind the first occurrence?
Thank you.
I don’t know of a rule about this. It would certainly be proper to put [sic] after each quoted error. If the error is not within a quote, you may just correct it entirely in your draft or at least after the first notification of an error in the original.
How do you correct the error. Would it be appropriate as follows: [sic correction]? Do you italicize sic and the corrected word or just sic?
Thank you.
You do not actually correct the error. You leave the incorrect word and only italicize and put sic in brackets.
Example: She wrote, “The dogs ate there [sic] food.”
Your usage is incomplete. Following unquoted text, authors uncommonly may insert sic to indicate ironic use. Quoted or not, sic is used to indicate a surprising or paradoxical word, phrase, or fact that is not a mistake and is to be read as it stands.
Yes, these less common uses are given in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. I tend to favor The Chicago Manual of Style and The AP Stylebook, commonly referenced by writers, which emphasize using sic for misspellings, errors, or peculiar usages.
How would one correct the following error?
The message sent to her account read, “Who do you think you are, trader [sic]!”, and was sent three minutes before the message to Joni was sent.
I have inserted the sic, but am confused as to the exclamatory punctuation of the quoted statement. Should there be a space between the closing bracket and the exclamation mark?
Since “Who do you think you are, trader!” is a question, there appear to be two errors, the word trader instead of traitor and the exclamation mark instead of a question mark. Since the original message must be quoted exactly as written, the [sic] should be placed immediately following the errors. No space is needed after the closing bracket and no comma is needed.
The message sent to her account read, “Who do you think you are, trader! [sic]” and was sent three minutes before the message to Joni was sent.
can you use [sic] after an italicized title that has an incorrect word in it?
Yes. Use [sic] to indicate that something incorrectly written is intentionally being left as it was in the original. Sic is usually italicized and placed right after the error. For example: Gone Width [sic] the Wind