Retraction, Withdrawal, & Correction (R-W-C) Polic
1. Retraction
Definition: Retraction is the formal removal of a published article due to serious issues that invalidate its findings or violate ethical standards.
When applied: Data falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or ethical misconduct.
Effect: The article remains online but is clearly marked as “Retracted” with a public notice explaining the reason.
2. Withdrawal
Definition: Withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript before publication, usually initiated by the author.
When applied: Author requests withdrawal before acceptance or in exceptional cases after acceptance.
Effect: The manuscript is removed from the editorial process. No penalties unless withdrawal is unjustified.
3. Correction
Definition: Correction is the publication of a notice to fix minor errors in a published article that do not affect its overall validity.
Types:
- Erratum: Publisher’s error.
- Corrigendum: Author’s error.
- Addendum: Additional information post-publication.
Effect: A correction notice is published and linked to the original article.
4. Removal
Definition: Removal is the complete deletion of a published article due to legal or safety concerns.
When applied: Defamation, copyright infringement, or health/safety risks.
Effect: The article is deleted, but metadata remains with an explanatory note.
5. Replacement
Definition: Replacement involves retracting a flawed article and publishing a corrected version.
When applied: Major errors that cannot be resolved through standard correction.
Effect: The original article is marked “Retracted and Replaced”, and the new version is published and linked.
Summary of Differences
| Action | Timing | Initiator | Reason Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retraction | After publication | Editor / Ethics Board | Serious error (e.g., data falsification, plagiarism, misconduct) | Article remains online, marked “Retracted” with public notice |
| Withdrawal | Before publication | Author | Author’s decision or justified error (e.g., authorship conflict) | Manuscript removed from editorial process |
| Correction | After publication | Author / Editor | Minor error (Erratum, Corrigendum, or Addendum) | Correction notice published and linked to original article |
| Removal | After publication | Editor / Legal | Legal violation, defamation, or safety risk | Article deleted; metadata remains with explanation |
| Replacement | After publication | Editor | Major error requiring full revision | Original article marked “Retracted and Replaced”; new version published |
