In short: A retraction formally withdraws a published article from the scholarly record when its findings can no longer be relied upon. It does not delete the article — it flags it clearly and explains why — and it can result from honest error as well as misconduct.
What is a retraction?
A retraction is a formal notice that an article should no longer be considered reliable. The article remains part of the permanent record — it is not erased — but it is clearly marked as retracted, with a linked notice explaining the reason. This is how the scholarly record stays honest, and it is governed by our corrections and retractions policy, which follows the COPE retraction guidelines.
Correction vs expression of concern vs retraction
- Correction (corrigendum/erratum) — fixes a specific error while the overall findings remain valid. A corrigendum usually corrects an author's error and an erratum a publisher's error, though journals apply these terms differently.
- Expression of concern — alerts readers to credible but unresolved concerns, often during an investigation.
- Retraction — used when the findings are seriously unreliable or the work breaches ethics, so it should no longer be relied upon.
Why articles are retracted
- Honest error — a serious mistake in methods, analysis or data found after publication.
- Misconduct — fabrication, falsification or plagiarism.
- Ethical breaches — missing consent or ethics approval, undisclosed conflicts, or duplicate publication.
- Unreliable findings — results that cannot be reproduced or that a re-analysis overturns.
Importantly, a retraction is not automatically an accusation of wrongdoing. Authors who discover a genuine error and ask to correct the record are acting responsibly.
How to avoid a retraction
- Report your work honestly and completely, following the relevant reporting guideline.
- Keep careful records of your data and analysis.
- Follow publication ethics — obtain consent and approvals, disclose conflicts, and never reuse work without citation.
- Correct errors early — if you find a mistake, contact the editor promptly; a timely correction is far better than an unaddressed problem.
Key takeaways
- A retraction withdraws an article but does not delete it — it is flagged and explained.
- Corrections fix errors; retractions apply when findings can't be relied upon.
- Retractions can stem from honest error as well as misconduct.
- Report honestly, follow ethics, and correct any error promptly.