Retractions and corrections: how to check responsibly

Start with the publisher record

Aggregators can lag. When a citation is flagged as retracted/corrected, open the publisher page (journal site) and read the notice.

• Confirm the notice applies to the exact DOI/PMID you intend to cite.
• Read the stated reason (error, misconduct, authorship dispute, etc.).
• Check whether the paper is fully retracted vs partially corrected (erratum/corrigendum).

How to interpret outcomes

Retraction status is a decision-support signal, not a substitute for reading.

• Retracted: generally avoid citing as positive evidence. If you cite it (e.g., as an example of a retraction), explicitly say it’s retracted and why it’s being referenced.
• Corrected: prefer citing the corrected version and ensure your claim matches the corrected content.
• Expression of concern: treat as “high attention” and verify with additional sources before relying on it.

Use tools as triage, then verify manually

Tools can surface retraction signals quickly, but final decisions are editorial.

Use Citation Verification to triage, then confirm by opening the publisher record and reading the notice.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing “retracted” with “removed” or “withdrawn” across platforms.
• Assuming a correction invalidates all results (sometimes it’s minor).
• Citing a retracted work as support without clearly labeling it as retracted.