Directory · 16 entries
Correction types: a glossary
Publishers use many labels for fixing what they publish. This glossary gives each term, what it means in the source that defines it and who uses it. The Washington Post uses correction, clarification and editor's note 1. AP's archived 2009 statement defines a corrective 2. Journals use retraction and expression of concern, as set out by COPE 3 and Elsevier 4. Meanings differ between outlets, so check the source in each row.
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Correction
Clarification
Editor's note
Corrective
Elimination
Update
Advisory
Apology
Take-down or unpublish
- Meaning
- Removing an article from a website. The Post does not grant such requests as a matter of policy 1
- Field
- News
Retraction
Expression of concern
- Meaning
- Alerts readers to concerns that might affect reliability. Remains part of the permanent record 4
- Field
- Research
Withdrawal
Removal
Replacement
Retraction and republication
Correction (research)
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Notes
- The same word can mean different things at different publishers. BOOM, for example, adds an editor's note to every corrected story 6.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@mediacorrections.org.
Sources
- The Washington Post: Policies and Standards, Corrections policy (company statement)
- The Associated Press: Statement of News Values and Principles (archived copy, UNT Web Archive, captured 15 January 2009)
- Committee on Publication Ethics: Retraction guidelines, Version 3 (4 September 2025)
- Elsevier: Article Correction, Retraction and Removal Policy (company statement)
- Snopes: Transparency: Corrections Policy (company statement)
- BOOM: Boomlive Corrections Policy (company statement)
- Editors' Code of Practice Committee: The Code
- The Globe and Mail: Editorial Code of Conduct (company statement)
- ICMJE: Recommendations, Corrections and Version Control