1. Errata (publisher error)
An Erratum is issued when an error introduced by the publisher (typesetting, production, metadata) affects the published version. Errata are linked bidirectionally to the original article and indexed alongside it.
2. Corrigenda (author error)
A Corrigendum is issued for an author-introduced error that does not invalidate the conclusions of the paper — for example, a mislabeled figure panel, a transcription error in a table, or a missing affiliation. The original article remains in place; the corrigendum is published as a citable, linked document.
3. Expressions of concern
An Expression of Concern may be published while an investigation is ongoing and the editors believe readers should be alerted to potential issues. The notice is linked to the article and remains until the investigation concludes.
4. Retractions
A Retraction is issued when the findings of an article are unreliable, whether through honest error or research misconduct. Reasons for retraction include — but are not limited to:
- Clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to fabrication, falsification, or major errors.
- Plagiarism or significant overlap with previously published work.
- Duplicate publication.
- Unethical research, including breaches of consent or animal welfare.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest that materially affect interpretation.
5. Retraction process
- The original article is retained online with a clear "RETRACTED" watermark on every page of the PDF and a notice on the landing page.
- A separate Retraction Notice is published, signed by the editors, stating who is retracting, the reason, and whether the authors agree.
- The original article and the retraction notice are linked bidirectionally and indexed.
- Crossref and other downstream services are notified.
6. Removal
Articles are removed (rather than retracted) only in exceptional cases — for example, where the article is defamatory, infringes legal rights, poses a serious public-health risk, or contains material that violates a court order. In such cases the metadata and a notice of removal remain accessible.
7. How to report a concern
Concerns about a published article should be sent to editorialoffice@aperturepapers.com with the article identifier and a clear description of the issue. All reports are reviewed; the reporter's identity is kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.