Will journals make post-publication revisions to the articles they have published?
Academic journals do permit post-publication revisions to published articles under specific circumstances. Post-publication corrections are generally feasible to address verified errors while maintaining scholarly integrity.
Such revisions are strictly governed by journal policies and ethical standards. Significant errors impacting conclusions or major interpretations necessitate formal notices, typically termed "Corrigenda" (author-initiated) or "Errata" (publisher-initiated), which are permanently linked to the original article. Minor typographical errors or formatting issues may be corrected silently in electronic versions without formal notice. Journals almost universally prohibit alterations to core findings or the addition of new substantial data post-publication. All corrective actions require documented justification and editorial approval to ensure transparency and prevent misuse.
The process serves critical applications: correcting the scholarly record, ensuring reader access to accurate information, protecting author credibility, and maintaining trust in the publication. Revisions, when properly executed through formal notices, preserve the original article's accessibility and citation while clearly documenting necessary amendments, upholding the scientific record's reliability for ongoing research and reference.
