Template:Sic/doc

This template simplifies insertion of the "[sic]" notation, which is used where a textual error, or unexpected but intended text that may appear to be an error, has been faithfully reproduced from the original source. Note that MOS:QUOTE says "Trivial spelling or typographical errors should be silently corrected unless the slip is textually important."


 * By default, it links to the article Sic for the benefit of readers, but this is disabled if the  parameter is added. When the template is used within the displayed anchor text (right-hand visible portion) of an internal or external link, this parameter is essential to prevent incorrect formatting, as the link will be truncated otherwise. Linking to the Sic article may be undesirable in certain other cases, for example when the template is used many times close together.


 * Additional unnamed parameters can be used to obfuscate spelling errors in quoted material in the wiki-text of a page, to help prevent automated or semi-automated correction by bot or human editors, which (although done in good faith) would be undesirable. In these cases, split the intentionally misspelled word or other character string into two parts and use them as the first two parameters of the template, and replace the original with the template:  will display as


 * The template can be used with a  question mark parameter to mark situations where the correctness or incorrectness of an apparent error cannot readily be determined. This will add the article to Category:Articles containing possible transcription errors for hopeful review by those more familiar with the subject and sources. If this feature is used in conjunction with the obfuscation feature above,   must come first:    Examples of use cases:
 * The quoted source might not be available online, or not without a paid subscription, etc.
 * A quoted passage contains a spelling error but is ambiguous as to whether the statement was originally printed this way (in which case [sic] may be appropriate), or spoken aloud (in which case the typo should be corrected).


 * yields:
 * ...his April 1992 interview with the Dolly Llama [sic]...
 * yields:
 * ...spokesperson stated that "rescue efforts have been suspnded [sic] until further notice"...
 * This is used because the context does not make it clear whether the spelling error was made by the spokesperson (in a written statement), or by a reporter (listening to the spokesperson speak).
 * ...spokesperson stated that "rescue efforts have been suspnded [sic] until further notice"...
 * This is used because the context does not make it clear whether the spelling error was made by the spokesperson (in a written statement), or by a reporter (listening to the spokesperson speak).

Controlling display ( and )
To suppress the link but keep the [sic]:
 * yields:
 * "Concencus can Change!"
 * "Concencus can Change!"

Use to avoid the display of sic altogether but still get the other benefits of the template. As with obfuscation, above, replace the original material that is now inside the template with the template itself, and the nolink and obfuscation features can be combined:

Note: It is pointless to specify both nolink and hide, since one is a display feature, but the other disables display.

Documenting the problem
If the misspelling is an unusual one, it may be helpful to include an "expected" parameter:. This has no effect on the rendered page, but may assist later editors.

Simple examples

 * Normal use: yields: templte [sic]
 * Obfuscating: yields: templte [sic]
 * Unlinked: yields: templte
 * Hidden: yields: templte [sic]
 * Query: yields: templte [sic]
 * Explained: yields: templte [sic]

Compound examples

 * Unlinked and obfuscated: yields: templte
 * Hidden and obfuscated: yields: templte [sic]
 * Query and obfuscated: yields: templte [sic]
 * Explained and unlinked: yields: templte
 * Query and unlinked: yields: templte
 * Query and hidden: yields: templte
 * Unlinked, hidden and query: yields: templte
 * Unlinked, query and obfuscated: yields: templte
 * Unlinked, hidden and obfuscated: yields: templte
 * Hidden, query and obfuscated: yields: templte [sic]
 * Unlinked, hidden, query and obfuscated: yields: templte