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Why is there a "[sic]" in the title? After reading the post on Slashdot, I have the impression that we are talking about actual blankets. So the word is correct
by lkrubner 14y ago
Why is there a "[sic]" in the title? After reading the post on Slashdot, I have the impression that we are talking about actual blankets. So the word is correctly spelled.
- cperciva 14y ago[sic] isn't used exclusively for spelling mistakes -- it means "thus was it written", aka. "this looks wrong, but it really isn't". In this case, I think the intention is to make explicit that yes, they really are sending blankets.
- gavinlynch 14y agoRegardless, it's an unnecessary qualifier. Most readers here can take the leap of faith that yes, the title was written correctly, as they wait about 2 seconds for the link to load. Who cares, it's just a title, but all things being equal it should be removed.
- smackfu 14y agoIt's pretty non-standard to use [sic] when it's not a quote.
- asciimo 14y agoSo it's being used as a substitute for the well-worn "literally." When did everyone become so incredulous?
- unfletch 14y agoGlad I'm not alone. Maybe there's a technical misuse of grammar in there somewhere and the poster is being pedantic? Whatever the issue, I don't see it either.
- ot 14y agoThe [sic] is in the original title on the /. submission, it was the author to use it. I think he meant "you read right, blankets".
- smackfu 14y agoThe problem with quoting text that has a [sic] is a fun one.
- atuttle 14y agoJust attach another "[sic]" and you are good.
- kens 14y agoI researched this last time the topic came up on HN. Based on some investigation in Google Books, what books actually do when quoting text containing [sic] is use a footnote: "blah blah [sic] blah"¹ ¹[sic] in original. (And keep in mind that [sic] is not shorthand for "ha ha you're stupid" even though that's how it usually gets used on the Internet.)
- chris_wot 14y agoSo in other words, on HN the title should be "Google is sending out blankets [sic] [sic] to open-source developers"
- nijk 14y agoBecause they average person would assume "blankets" is a typo, because it is such a stupid gift.
- bonaldi 14y agoSuspect it's a joke, intended to be read as "(yes, really, blankets)"
- mnarayan01 14y agoI assume it's based upon the idea of sending plague-ridden blankets. The sic being there to denote that they are actually sending blankets; it's not a metaphor. That said, it's not a great usage.