Assess the error before proposing a remedy
Locate the affected text, table, figure or data and determine what changes if it is corrected. Discuss the issue with coauthors and the responsible institution where needed. Do not quietly replace a shared version and imply that the published record has changed.
Contact the journal with evidence
Provide the article identifier, a precise description, the proposed corrected material and an explanation of the effect on conclusions. The editor determines the appropriate notice or investigation. A support provider can help organize the explanation, but cannot guarantee the journal’s decision.
Disclose overlap in related work
When developing another paper from a larger project, explain what is distinct and cite relevant prior reports. Check permissions for reused text or figures and the journal’s policy on prior publication. A different title does not make substantially repeated findings a new contribution.
Update your own records accurately
After a formal correction or retraction, link the notice in relevant records and describe the status honestly. The purpose is to make the research record understandable, not to hide an inconvenient result or recreate a clean-looking publication history.