The first time you saw “sic” in brackets inside a quote, you probably paused and wondered, “Okay… what does that mean?” Maybe it felt like a typo, or maybe you thought the writer was just being fancy.
Don’t worry — everyone has that moment. I remember reading a historical article where a politician’s quote said, “We was [sic] ready,” and I thought the editor made a mistake. Turns out sic is intentional — and super important in writing, journalism, and academic work.
Let’s break it down clearly.
Quick Answer:
“[sic]” means “intentionally written exactly as in the original source.” It’s a formal, factual, and clarifying notation used to show that an error or odd wording belonged to the original speaker/writer — not you.
🧠 What Does [sic] Mean in Writing?
The word “sic” comes from Latin meaning “thus” or “so.” In modern writing, it is placed inside brackets [sic] to show the quoted content contains:
- A mistake
- A misspelling
- Incorrect grammar
- An odd phrase
- A strange fact
- A dialect or slang word
…and the writer wants the reader to know it wasn’t altered.
📌 Example:
“She said, ‘I seen [sic] him yesterday.’”
Here, sic tells the reader:
👉 The incorrect grammar (“I seen”) is part of the original quote, not an error made by the person quoting it.
In short:
[sic] = “exactly as original” = not my mistake.
🌍 Where Is [sic] Commonly Used?
You will usually find [sic] in formal or factual writing, including:
- 📰 Journalism and news articles
- 📚 Academic papers
- 🏛️ Legal documents
- 📜 Historical transcripts
- 👩🏫 Research citations
- ✍️ Editorial writing
- 🌐 Online fact-checks
- 📘 Books referencing quotes
Is “[sic]” casual or formal?
👉 Very formal.
You should not use [sic] in casual texting or social media unless you’re joking or correcting someone publicly (which can look rude).
💬 Examples of [sic] in Real Writing
Here are realistic examples showing how [sic] is used:
Example 1:
“The document states, ‘Their [sic] going to approve the plan.’”
Example 2:
“He wrote, ‘I will be their at five tomorow [sic].’”
Example 3:
“The witness said, ‘We was [sic] driving fast.’”
Example 4:
“The sign read, ‘No dog’s [sic] allowed.’”
Example 5:
“The report included, ‘The water rises 2 feets [sic] during storms.’”
Example 6:
“She texted, ‘Im [sic] on my way.’”
These examples show that sic preserves the integrity of the original statement without introducing embarrassment or confusion about who made the error.
🕓 When to Use and When NOT to Use [sic]
✅ When to Use [sic]
Use [sic] when:
- Quoting someone exactly, including their mistakes
- You need to show accuracy (academics, journalism, legal)
- The error changes meaning
- The mistake is noticeable or confusing
- The reader might otherwise assume the writer made the mistake
❌ When NOT to Use [sic]
Avoid [sic] when:
- Writing casually or informally
- The mistake is minor and not important
- It may embarrass the original speaker unnecessarily
- Paraphrasing instead of quoting
- You can explain in a note or footnote instead
🔍 Comparison Table
| Context | Example Phrase | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Paper | “The letter said, ‘We recieved [sic] your request.’” | Shows accuracy in quoting |
| News Article | “He wrote, ‘Their [sic] winning.’” | Clarifies the mistake wasn’t the journalist’s |
| Legal Document | “The witness stated, ‘I seen [sic] them leave.’” | Keeps testimony exact |
| Casual Chat | Don’t use [sic] | Looks overly critical |
| Rephrase instead | More professional & polite |
🔄 Similar Terms or Alternatives
| Term | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| paraphrase | Putting into your own words | When you don’t need exact wording |
| ellipsis (…) | Removing unnecessary text | To shorten quotes |
| [emphasis added] | Editor added bold/italics | Clarifying important parts |
| [clarification added] | Editor added words for clarity | When a quote is unclear |
| footnote | Additional explanation | Detailed academic or legal writing |
🙋♂️ FAQs
1. Is [sic] rude?
It can be if used sarcastically. In formal writing, it’s neutral and factual.
2. Should [sic] be italicized?
Traditionally yes, because it’s a Latin term — sic.
But many modern publications accept non-italic [sic].
3. Do you use [sic] for slang?
Usually no. Slang is not an “error” — only confusing or incorrect wording typically gets [sic].
4. Does [sic] mean “spelling is correct”?
Indirectly yes — it means “this is exactly what the original said.”
5. Where should [sic] be placed?
Right after the error, inside brackets.
6. Should it be capped (Sic or sic)?
Use lowercase: sic.
📝 Mini Quiz — Test Your Understanding!
1. What does [sic] mean?
a) Editor corrected it
b) Editor added new words
c) Quoted exactly, errors included ✅
2. Which sentence uses [sic] correctly?
a) “We are going too [sic] win.”
b) “He wrote, ‘I love youre [sic] smile.’” ✅
c) “She is [sic] happy.”
3. Is [sic] used in texting?
a) Yes
b) No, it’s formal writing only ✅
4. What language does “sic” come from?
a) French
b) Latin ✅
c) Spanish
5. Should you use [sic] to mock someone?
a) Yes
b) No — it can be rude. ✅
📝 Conclusion
“[sic]” is a small but powerful tool in writing. It protects accuracy, preserves original quotations, and ensures readers understand that a mistake came from the source — not the writer. Whether you’re reading academic work, journalism, or legal documents, knowing the meaning of [sic] helps you interpret information more clearly. It’s formal, precise, and essential for accurate quoting.
