What does [sic] mean - simply explained
The abbreviation "[sic]" is often found on the Internet and not least in scientific articles. We explain the meaning of this abbreviation in this practical tip.
Quotes with [sic] - meaning and benefits
The abbreviation [sic] comes from Latin and stands for "really like that".
- The abbreviation is used to indicate that the citation was correct, even though the quote contains spelling errors, for example.
- With literal quotations, it is important to reproduce the exact wording. For example, an author who writes "that" with "ß" must be quoted accordingly. In the quote, the [sic] is usually added after the corresponding word.
- Example: Aristotle already criticized "that [sic] the youth was unbearable, irresponsible and horrible to look at".
In the next practical tip you will find out what is behind the abbreviation "BRB".