Discussion
I found this:
"Sic (=thus, so), invariably bracketed and usually set in italics, is used to indicate that a preceding word or phrase in a quoted passage is reproduced as it appeared in the original passage. Sic at its best is intended to aid readers who might be confused about whether the quoter or the quoted writer is responsible for the spelling or grammatical anomaly.
You should therefore position [sic] straight after the error to which it refers: if a mispelling, after the word concerned; otherwise after the phrase."
Forgot to add - it's Latin
Prof Beard
>> Edited by Prof Beard on Monday 22 August 19:50
"Sic (=thus, so), invariably bracketed and usually set in italics, is used to indicate that a preceding word or phrase in a quoted passage is reproduced as it appeared in the original passage. Sic at its best is intended to aid readers who might be confused about whether the quoter or the quoted writer is responsible for the spelling or grammatical anomaly.
You should therefore position [sic] straight after the error to which it refers: if a mispelling, after the word concerned; otherwise after the phrase."
Forgot to add - it's Latin
Prof Beard
>> Edited by Prof Beard on Monday 22 August 19:50
Eric Mc said:
As in Sic Transit Gloria which is supposed to mean "Thus Passes Glory" but we all know it really means Gloria was sick in the back of the Transit.
Actually, it's even more precise - she threw up on Monday.
Sic transit gloria mundi - thus passes away the glory of the world
Prof Beard
JonRB said:
Indeed. It basically means "I'm quoting someone who made a mistake. I didn't make the mistake. I know there is a mistake. I'm pointing out that I know that there is a mistake so you don't think I made it. Ha ha, isn't the person who I am quoting silly for making the mistake". 
Possibly the finest description of this intellectual snobbery ever written.
(and I bet there's a spelling mistake in there too)
eharding said:
You should therefore position [sic] straight after the error to which it refers:
Now I'm confused - what's wrong with the spelling of 'therefore position?'
It doesn't have to apply to a spelling mistake, but can also apply to a grammatical error or poor use of English or syntax.
Very interesting, some years ago when I had my green screen Amstrad 8250 (think the number is correct) when I ran the spelling checker, and clicked on "Always bypass this word", (which you would do on a word not in the dictionary, like ASAP for example),so that next time the spell checker would pass this one by, there was a command which would show (sic) before the word, didnt print out, but just showed it on the screen, now I understand what it meant.
JonRB said:
Indeed. It basically means "I'm quoting someone who made a mistake. I didn't make the mistake. I know there is a mistake. I'm pointing out that I know that there is a mistake so you don't think I made it. Ha ha, isn't the person who I am quoting silly for making the mistake".
excellent 
ASAP is not a word, it's an acronym - like NASA or QANTAS.
Latin words are used all over the place in English. I'm glad I studied it as a subject in school (up to Irish Intermediate Exam level) as knowledge of these words has come in very useful, especially as I had to study law as part of my accounting training.
Latin words are used all over the place in English. I'm glad I studied it as a subject in school (up to Irish Intermediate Exam level) as knowledge of these words has come in very useful, especially as I had to study law as part of my accounting training.
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