Correction in Scientific Publication: Why, How, and by Whom?

The word correction means some changes in the document, material, and theory which is published earlier. Many a times correction is necessary to do because of whatever material is issued earlier had some query, doubts, printing mistakes, limitations, unethical sentences/words, or theory.[1] In view of scientific materials, several theories or hypotheses are given by the scientists, and they are corrected later by the same scientist or another scientist after a few days to several years.[2] There is a latest example about severity of newer variants (Delta, Omicron, or others) of the coronavirus. When the virus variants were identified, hypothesis was higher severity although it was found less severe later.[3] Today, there are more than 100 k scientific journals which are indexed in several indexing bodies. Whenever we find any rare case, organisms, and clinical pictures, we search on Internet to find out the reference or guidance about treatment and other things. Scientific journal articles are the major source of the knowledge and scientific discussion. There are several international journal groups which publish very effective and knowledgeable scientific materials in their respective journals. Some of them are publishing articles every week after completing peer review though due to whatever reason they are publishing some corrections of any articles in somedays. Their every week issues we see that the corrections on previous published articles within 2–3 weeks. We appreciate that the journal itself publishes the correction in their own articles. Those corrections are either suggested by authors, readers, or reviewers; however, accepting that correction and correct it, itself is a noble job.[4] In the current world, when majority of the people do not accept their mistakes and will not correct it, reputed journals are not only accepting it but also correct it by themselves. There are one larger community of authors who do not want to touch or contact the journal after receiving acceptance from the journal; however, they know about the mistakes/errors in their manuscript. They fear that if they contact the journal about the errors, may be their accepted manuscript will either again go for re-review or maybe get rejected. They do not want to take any chances for their manuscript after acceptance letter received from the reviewer and journal, and they are right at their place. Accepting the manuscript for publication after so many efforts and multiple revisions and requesting or informing the journal about the errors will be harmful to their own self.[5] We want to suggest them, please take some initiative and efforts for that, after all it is your own work and none of us want readers trolled for work, reviewer, or journal after publishing. If the author does not want to take initiative after acceptance, they can do/suggest the correction during the author proof received from the journal. It can prevent the chance of re-review/rejection for the manuscript, and it will be appreciable work for them too.[6] GENERAL REASONS AND RATIONALES FOR CORRECTION Most common errors in scientific publications are due to typo-error. Spelling and grammar mistakes are commonest error which should be checked before the submission, during revision, or during author proof. Simple typo-errors does not need to be contacted to the journal/editor.[7] Errors which can change the impact of the scientific article in wrong way or made some ethically controversial statement need to be corrected or removed from manuscript. Directly pointing to any organization or agency, unintentional promotion of any product/person should be avoided in scientific publications. Not all manuscripts need correction because review and author proof process are specifically done for that. Review processes must check the authenticity of data, their appropriateness and contribution in scientific research data, ethical issues, and many more which cover the common points of correction need. Hardly one or two manuscripts need any sort of correction after peer review, acceptance, and publication. Images taken from internet, website, or article without permission or citation, need to be removed and manuscripts should need correction. WHAT IS APPROPRIATE CORRECTION? Whatever correction author/readers have suggested, should need justification and/or reference. If any typo error/correction is needed, it will be accepted but if correction in the data is there, it should be justified. Calculations and statistical analysis errors should be correct but authors have to give the appropriate reason behind the error in it.[8] Data correction request can be entertained if it is taken from any scientific article, guidelines, or policy. Sometimes policy or guidelines corrected in short time but author has used old guidelines/policy during their manuscript writing and that old policy gives any wrong meaning or impact, it should be corrected. These types of corrections need latest references of policies, guidelines, or scientifically published data. Correction in your own data due to wrong entry and it giving a wrong data about prevalence and making major variation should be corrected. Though minor variation in the results need not be corrected due to insignificance on the scientific value of article. Changes in author name (addition or deletion), author order, and/or affiliation is not an appropriate correction and it will not be accepted by the editor/journal. Only typing error can be considered in those details.[9] HOW TO MAKE A CORRECTION? Once author/s decided about correction required in their manuscript, they have to initiate the conversation with the Editor of journal. They have to prepare the corrected file along with the comments where correction is needed and what correction is done in the manuscript. They also have to make one column where justification of correction should be explained. Some journals do not have the facility to contact editor-in-chief; in that case, author/s have to login on submission portal and send the message to editorial board with earlier said files. Authors have to wait for around 1–2 weeks for response. If response is not received in that time, they have to send gentle reminder by same way. In our experience, editor replies soon. Now everything is on editor/journal’s decision. If they accept the request for correction, there is no best option other than that. When journal/editor give you chance to correct the error/s, do whichever are required and justified. If journal accepts your correction suggestion but they will do by at their end. It is also accepted, at least manuscript will be corrected at any one end. If article is published before the correction request is accepted, correction will be published in next issue of the journal. Many journals are publishing this type of self-suggested correction which is known as corrigendum.[8,9] A simple flow chart is given in Figure 1 about the correction in various stages of publication.Figure 1: Corrections in scientific publication at various stagesWe are not pointing to the review process of journal/editor/reviewer because they perform their duty as volunteers and perform their duty very well, and later, when they found any need of corrections, they are doing by themselves[6] and they publish it as early as possible. Writing this letter is only appreciating as well justifying journal’s correction policy and their immediate action. Also, we want to initialize the author and/or reader to come in front and accept/suggest the correction in their own manuscript even after publication if it has any major error which can give wrong impact in scientific publication world. Corrections can be suggested by anyone and it is appreciated by the journal if it has proper valid reason/justification and references. Data availability statement There is no data in the manuscript. Author contribution SM: Manuscript writing; NKD: Manuscript review; DD: Concepts; RAP: Literature Search; SK: Final approval of manuscript and corresponding Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.