CORRECTION AND RETRACTION

1. Overview of the Notices

2. Corrections

2.1 When a Correction Is Used

A correction repairs an error in an article that is still substantially reliable. Corrections may be used for:

• errors in data, tables, figures, or supplementary files, such as questionnaires, tests, or training modules;
• errors in photographs or other documentation of the activity;
• wrong names or affiliations of authors;
• missing or wrong funding statements, competing interest statements, or acknowledgments; and
• errors in references or in the attribution of sources.

A correction cannot be used to hide findings that are fundamentally unreliable. If the conclusions of an article would change significantly, the journal considers whether a different action is needed. Changes to the list of authors follow the Authorship and Contributorship policy.

2.2 Requesting and Assessing a Correction

2.3 The Correction Notice

• The notice identifies the article, describes the error and the correction, and explains any effect on the interpretation of the article. It may be called a corrigendum or an erratum.
• The notice is dated, clearly labeled, freely accessible, and linked to the original article.
• Substantive changes are always disclosed. Minor technical corrections may be recorded as a version note or an administrative update.
• The privacy of the authors is protected, and personal details are kept to a minimum.

2.4 Implementation

The corrected file is published together with the notice, and the change is recorded. The DOI of the article does not change. The metadata are updated, and indexing services are informed where this is needed.

3. Retractions

3.1 Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted for any of the following reasons.

• a major error, fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate analysis;
• substantial plagiarism or undisclosed redundant publication;
• a problem with the right of the authors to publish the work;
• a serious ethical failure, such as the absence of the required permission or of the consent of participants;
• a compromised assessment process; or
• a major competing interest that was not disclosed.

An honest error can also justify a retraction if it undermines the findings of the article. Proof that the authors intended to mislead is not always required.

3.2 Decision and Safeguards

3.3 The Retraction Notice

• The notice identifies the article and its DOI, and names the party that issues the retraction.
• It gives the reasons for the retraction, based on evidence, and separates facts that are established from issues that are not resolved.
• Its wording is proportionate, and it does not blame any group without evidence.
• It is dated, clearly labeled, freely accessible, and permanently linked to the article.

3.4 The Published Record

• A retracted article normally remains available online, with a status warning and a link to the retraction notice. It is not deleted.
• In exceptional cases, the full text may be removed, for example for legal reasons or because of a serious risk to the privacy or the safety of participants, including minors and community members. A notice that explains the removal stays in the record.
• A retraction does not withdraw the license rights that readers have already received under the Licensing terms.

4. Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern is issued while a serious concern about an article is not yet resolved, or when the evidence suggests a serious problem but is not yet conclusive. The notice is dated, freely accessible, and linked to the article. The matter is handled under the Allegations of Misconduct policy. When the matter is resolved, the expression of concern is replaced or followed by a correction, by a retraction, or by a statement that the concern has been resolved.

5. Related Pages

Questions about Corrections and Retractions