You can check if a paper has been retracted by searching the Retraction Watch Database (retractiondatabase.org), which catalogs over 40,000 retracted papers, or by looking for a retraction notice on the journal's website where the paper was published.
Quick Verification Methods
Check the original publication page. Visit the journal's website and search for the paper by its DOI or title. Retracted papers typically display a prominent "RETRACTED" watermark across the PDF and include a formal retraction notice explaining why the paper was withdrawn—common reasons include data fabrication, plagiarism, ethical violations, or honest errors that invalidate the findings.
Search Retraction Watch Database. This free, comprehensive resource maintained by the Center for Scientific Integrity allows you to search by author name, paper title, DOI, or institution. It provides detailed retraction notices and often includes context about the circumstances.
Use PubMed or PubMed Central. For biomedical papers, PubMed clearly labels retracted articles with a "Retracted Publication" tag in the search results and article record. The database links to both the original paper and the retraction notice.
Why This Matters
Citing retracted work can seriously damage your credibility and waste research effort built on flawed foundations. Unfortunately, retracted papers continue circulating—studies show they're still cited hundreds of times after retraction, often because researchers don't verify their sources.
When building your literature review, WisPaper's TrueCite automatically flags problematic citations during the writing process, helping you catch retracted papers before they make it into your manuscript. This verification layer is especially valuable when working with older references or papers from less familiar journals.
Additional Red Flags
Beyond formal retractions, watch for "Expressions of Concern" from journals—these indicate serious questions about a paper's validity while investigation continues. Also check whether authors have published corrections or errata that substantially alter the original findings. Cross-reference suspicious papers through Google Scholar to see if other researchers have noted problems in subsequent publications.
