Resolved: How to read the value of a Record in typescript (the right way)

type SortOption = string | Record<string, "desc" | "asc">
type Item = { name: string, value: SortOption}

const item: Item = {
  name: "myItem",
  value: {
    version: "desc"
  }
}

console.log(item.value.version) // prints "desc" but shows error

Property 'version' does not exist on type 'SortOption'.
  Property 'version' does not exist on type 'string'.ts(2339)

console.log((item.value as any).version) // prints "desc" but doesn't show error

type SortOption = string | Record<string, "desc" | "asc">

const item: Item = {
  name: "myItem",
  value: 'a string'
}

// but now this will throw an exception at runtime:
item.value.version

// if it's not a string, it must be the other thing.
if (typeof item.value !== 'string') {
    console.log(item.value.version) // fine
}