Complaints and Appeals

Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

Manuscripts are always subjected to (and should be submitted to) peer review by the academic community. It is fairly rare for published papers to need corrections, especially when they are based on truths. This kind of exchange is beneficial for academic development and should be promoted.

In these cases, issues should be addressed through letters to the editor, whether printed or electronic. The editor should be accessible to reply promptly but also collect evidence in order to make an educated choice about whether to accept or reject the suggested adjustment.

In situations where the author identifies the need for a correction, it is important to publish a corrigendum. If the journal itself is responsible for an error, an erratum should be issued. In cases where an article is deemed significantly and irreversibly flawed, a retraction should be issued. We strongly advise familiarizing oneself with COPE’s Complaints and appeals.