what is the literal translation of (sic)?

Question

where did this term originate? what does it mean? i understand how it's used, but I dont understand it in form

Answer 1

Marcelo's intuition is wrong (especially since "copy" is not a Latin word). It is not an acronym. The first two answers are correct, it simply means "thus". It is used when the original author of a quote made a mistake (spelling error, grammar error, or factual error) and you are simply quoting him verbatum: "Columbus discovered America in 1493 [sic]"

Answer 2

Yes, the literal translation of the Latin word "sic" is "thus". It means that the word is not a mistake of the writer, rather that he is quoting it directly from another source, even if it is misspelled or incorrect in some detail.

The word probably originated centuries ago, when clerks copied religious or legal documents (which were all written in Latin) by hand from one source to another, to show that it was not the error of the copyist, but that it appeared in exactly that way in the original document.

Answer 3

Everyone here has answered correctly. But an English teacher I had once said that it was also an old typesetter's abbreviation that meant either "S.pelling I.s to be C.hanged" , or "S.pelling I.ncorrect in original C.opy" or or something to the effect that while the spelling in the orignial is incorrect, the publisher has not corrected it out of respect for its authenticity.

Answer 4

The word "sic" means "just so", "in such a way" or "thus" in Latin and was also used as an affirmative, as curiously Latin has no word for "yes". In fact, it survives in modern Latin languages with that meaning (si). As you understand its use, I shall not go into details, but it always sounds like a sly little nudge, as one comments: "yes, indeed!"

Answer 5

It is Latin for "thus". It is used when quoting someone. If there is an error in the quotation, inserting [sic] shows that the error is in the quotation and not in your transcription of it.

Answer 6

My instinct tells me it means Scriptum Idem Copy :=)

Answer 7

It comes from Latin, meaning "thus, so, or in that manner".