Mistakes are a natural part of being human. As the saying goes, no one is above mistakes, and that truth extends fully into academic research and scholarly publishing. Every researcher, editor, and reviewer is continually learning, refining judgment, and adapting to new standards in order to reduce error.
Yet not all mistakes are the same.
Some errors arise from oversight, carelessness, weak analysis, or, more seriously, dishonesty. Others emerge despite good intentions: data volatility, changing variables, evolving methodologies, or the emergence of new evidence beyond the researcher’s control. Academic publishing exists within this complexity, which is why systems are in place to address errors responsibly when they surface.
And they do surface.
So what happens when a mistake is discovered after an article has already been published?
Publication Is Not the End of Scrutiny
Many researchers experience a sense of finality once their article is published. After months, sometimes years, of drafting, peer review, revisions, and editorial checks, publication can feel like closure.
In reality, it is the beginning of a new phase.
Once an article enters the public scholarly record, it meets new readers, new interpretations, replication efforts, and real-world applications. This is often when inconsistencies, oversights, or limitations become visible.
When this happens, action must be taken promptly and proportionately.
How Journals Decide What Action to Take
When a concern is raised by an author, editor, reviewer, or even a reader, the journal evaluates the issue using established ethical frameworks, most notably the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). COPE is an international non-profit organization that guides publishers and editors on how to handle ethical issues while preserving the integrity of the scientific record.
Following the investigation, one of two primary outcomes occurs:
Correction, when the issue is considered minor, and the work remains reliable
Retraction or Withdrawal, when the issue is serious enough to undermine trust in the findings
This decision is made jointly by the publisher and the journal’s editorial leadership, with careful attention to evidence, intent, and impact.
Corrections: When the Research Remains Trustworthy
A correction is issued when a mistake does not invalidate the central findings of the article.
Errors may be identified by authors, editors, or third parties. Once flagged, the editorial team evaluates whether the article remains scientifically reliable despite the issue.
There are two main types of corrections:
Corrigendum
A corrigendum is issued when the error originates from the author(s). Examples include data miscalculations, incorrect author role descriptions in collaborative work, or analytical oversights that affect clarity but not the study’s core conclusions. Corrigenda are submitted by the author(s), typically with the agreement of all co-authors, and approved by the editor.
Erratum
An erratum is issued when the error originates during the production process. This includes formatting mistakes, typesetting issues, missing or mislabeled tables or figures, and errors that do not affect the validity of the research itself. Errata are issued by the journal, usually after consultation with the author.
Corrections are not admissions of incompetence. They are evidence of scholarly responsibility.
Retraction: When the Findings Can No Longer Stand
Retraction is reserved for more serious situations. According to COPE guidelines, retraction may be necessary when:
the error invalidates the article’s findings
the results are unreliable or misleading
professional ethical standards are violated (e.g., plagiarism, breach of participant confidentiality)
the article, or a substantial part of it, is subject to legal dispute
While the initiative to retract may come from authors, publishers, or readers, the final responsibility lies with the journal editor. Once the decision is made, a formal retraction notice is published promptly, clearly stating the reasons and preserving transparency for future readers.
Importantly, retraction does not erase an article from existence. It contextualizes it, protecting the scholarly record while ensuring that unreliable findings are not unknowingly reused.
What Corrections and Retractions Really Signal
There is a persistent fear among researchers that corrections or retractions permanently damage reputation. In reality, the opposite is often true.
Scholars who engage openly, respond promptly, and cooperate ethically demonstrate intellectual honesty and professional maturity. What harms credibility most is silence, denial, or avoidance, not accountability.
Corrections and retractions exist not to punish researchers, but to safeguard scholarship itself.
Integrity as a Shared Responsibility
Every published article carries two things: the reputation of the author and the credibility of the journal. Both are taken seriously in post-publication decisions.
Ethical publishing does not promise perfection. It promises responsibility.
Mistakes do not define a researcher.
How they are addressed does.
By correcting the record when necessary, scholarly publishing fulfills its most important role: preserving trust in knowledge, long after publication.