TL;DR

• An erratum is a correction to a publisher's mistake, not the author's.

• A corrigendum is a correction to an author's own error in a published paper.

• Both are formal notices published by the journal, not informal edits.

• Corrections do not retract a paper or damage a research record permanently.

• Knowing the difference helps you respond correctly if an editor contacts you.

You submitted your paper. It got accepted. It was published. Then you spot something wrong. Maybe a number in a table is off. Maybe a figure label is incorrect. Your first instinct might be to panic. Your second might be to wonder whether this ends your research career before it starts.

It does not. Corrections are a normal, well-defined part of academic publishing. Every major journal has a process for them. The key is understanding what kind of correction applies to your situation, and that starts with knowing the difference between a corrigendum vs erratum.

These two terms look similar and are often confused, even by experienced researchers. Getting them right matters because journals treat them differently, and using the wrong term when contacting an editor signals inexperience. This post explains both clearly, walks you through when each applies, and tells you exactly what to do if you need to file one.

What Is the Difference Between a Corrigendum and an Erratum?

A corrigendum is a correction to an error made by the authors. An erratum is a correction to an error made by the publisher or journal production team. The distinction is about who made the mistake, not how serious the mistake was. Both result in a formal published notice that is linked to the original article and indexed alongside it.

The word corrigendum comes from Latin, meaning "something to be corrected." When an author submits a manuscript with a typo, a miscalculated value, or a mislabelled figure, and that error survives into the published version, the correction that follows is called a corrigendum. The author is responsible for flagging it and drafting the correction notice.

An erratum, by contrast, originates on the publisher's side. If a typesetter introduces a formatting error, if a figure is reproduced at the wrong resolution, or if text is dropped during the production process, the journal issues an erratum. The author is not at fault, but they are usually consulted before the notice is published.

In practice, many journals now use these terms interchangeably in their editorial policies, which adds to the confusion. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the international body that sets standards for academic publishing integrity, recommends that journals clearly distinguish between author-generated and publisher-generated errors in any correction notice. If you are unsure which term your target journal uses, check their corrections policy directly before reaching out to an editor.

When Should You File a Corrigendum?

File a corrigendum when you discover an error in your published paper that you or your co-authors introduced. This includes incorrect data values, wrong citations, mislabelled figures, errors in equations, and factual mistakes in the text. You do not need to file one for every minor typo, but any error that could affect how a reader interprets or replicates your findings should be corrected formally.

The threshold question is whether the error affects the conclusions of the paper. If a table contains a transcription error but the conclusions drawn from that table remain valid, a corrigendum is appropriate. If the error is serious enough to invalidate a finding, the journal may instead consider a retraction, which is a separate and much more significant action.

Here is the general process for filing a corrigendum at most journals:

1. Identify the error precisely. Note the page number, figure number, or section, and write out both the incorrect text and the correct replacement.

2. Contact the journal's editorial office directly. Use the contact information listed on the journal's website, not a general submissions portal.

3. Write a brief, factual explanation of the error and how it occurred. Do not over-explain or apologise excessively. Editors handle these regularly.

4. Submit the proposed correction text. The journal will format it according to their house style and publish it as a linked notice.

5. Check that the correction appears in the database records. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science all index correction notices. Confirm the link between the notice and your original article is live.

Journals such as PLOS ONE and Nature Communications publish their corrections policies openly on their websites and process most corrigenda within a few weeks of the author's request. The Journal of Biological Chemistry also has a detailed public policy distinguishing corrections from retractions, which is a useful reference for understanding how seriously editors take each category.

If you are working on your first published paper and want structured support navigating steps like this, joining the Publication Compass waitlist puts you in early access to a platform built specifically to guide student researchers through the full publication process.

When Does the Publisher Issue an Erratum Instead?

The publisher issues an erratum when their production team introduced the error, not the author. Common causes include typesetting mistakes, incorrect figure placement, corrupted files during conversion, or errors introduced during copyediting that were not caught in proof review. If you reviewed your proofs carefully before publication and an error appeared anyway, that is likely grounds for an erratum rather than a corrigendum.

In this situation, you still need to act quickly. Contact the editorial office as soon as you spot the discrepancy. Provide a comparison between what your accepted manuscript or final proof shows and what appeared in the published version. The publisher will verify the error against their production records and issue the erratum if the fault is confirmed on their side.

One practical note: always keep a copy of your accepted manuscript and your final approved proofs. These documents are your evidence if a dispute arises about who introduced an error. Many early-career researchers do not save these files systematically, and it creates problems later. Understanding how to manage your research documentation is part of the broader publication process that every student researcher should learn before submitting.

Do Corrections Affect Your Academic Record?

A corrigendum or erratum does not damage your academic record. Both are normal features of scholarly publishing. Corrections are indexed alongside the original article and are visible to anyone reading it, but they signal transparency and integrity, not incompetence. Editors, reviewers, and university admissions committees understand that errors occur and that responsible researchers correct them.

What does affect a research record is an uncorrected error that misleads other researchers, or worse, a retraction that results from misconduct. Filing a corrigendum promptly is the responsible action. It protects the integrity of the scientific record and demonstrates that you take your work seriously.

COPE's guidelines on corrections, available at publicationethics.org, state clearly that journals have a responsibility to correct the record when errors are identified, regardless of who caused them. The stigma around corrections is largely unfounded and is more common among researchers who have not yet published than among those who have. Experienced academics treat a well-handled correction as a sign of professionalism.

For student researchers publishing for the first time, understanding this distinction early removes a significant source of anxiety. Knowing that a mistake in a published paper has a defined, manageable resolution process changes how you approach the work. You can learn more about preparing a manuscript that minimises these risks in this guide to academic writing for student researchers.

Corrigendum vs Erratum: A Quick Reference

These two terms follow a clear logic once you know the origin of the error. Here is a structured comparison to make the distinction easy to remember:

1. Who made the error? Author or co-author: corrigendum. Publisher or production team: erratum.

2. Who initiates the correction? For a corrigendum, the author contacts the journal. For an erratum, either party can initiate, but the publisher typically leads.

3. How is it published? Both appear as separate, linked notices in the same journal. Both are indexed in academic databases.

4. Does it affect the original article? The original article remains live. The correction notice is linked to it. Readers see both.

5. Is it the same as a retraction? No. A retraction removes a paper from the scientific record due to serious errors or misconduct. Corrections leave the paper intact.

Keeping this sequence in mind makes it easier to respond calmly and correctly if you ever need to contact a journal after publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a corrigendum and an erratum in simple terms?

A corrigendum corrects a mistake made by the authors of a paper. An erratum corrects a mistake made by the journal's production team. Both are formal published notices linked to the original article. The word you use depends on who made the error, not how serious it was.

Does filing a corrigendum hurt my chances of getting published again?

No. Filing a corrigendum is a standard part of academic publishing and reflects positively on your integrity as a researcher. Journals and editors expect that errors will occasionally occur. What matters is that you correct them promptly and transparently. Leaving a known error uncorrected is far more damaging to your reputation than filing a correction.

Can a corrigendum or erratum be issued for a paper I wrote in high school?

Yes. Any peer-reviewed published paper can receive a correction notice, regardless of the author's age or career stage. If your paper was published in a peer-reviewed journal and you identify an error, you follow the same correction process as any other author. Contact the editorial office with the specific error and the correct replacement text.

How long does it take for a corrigendum to be published?

Processing times vary by journal. Many journals publish correction notices within two to eight weeks of receiving the author's request, though some take longer during high-submission periods. Journals like PLOS ONE publish their average handling times in their editorial policies. Contact the editorial office if you have not received a response within four weeks of your initial request.

Is there a formal body that sets rules for how corrections are handled?

Yes. The Committee on Publication Ethics, known as COPE, sets internationally recognised guidelines for how journals should handle corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern. Most reputable peer-reviewed journals follow COPE guidelines. Their full guidance on corrections is freely available at publicationethics.org and is the authoritative reference for both authors and editors.

What to Do Next

If you have a published paper that needs a correction, act now. Identify the error precisely, locate the journal's corrections policy on their website, and contact the editorial office with a clear, factual description of the problem and the correct replacement. Do not wait. The longer an error remains uncorrected in the published record, the more likely it is that another researcher cites the wrong information.

If you are still working toward your first publication and want to build the skills to navigate every stage of this process, from manuscript preparation to post-publication corrections, explore the resources at the Publication Compass blog for practical, student-focused guidance on academic research and publishing.