Korrigendum

Korrigendum is a term used in publishing to denote a correction to a previously published work. It derives from the Latin corrigendum, meaning “that which must be corrected,” and is used in several European languages as well as in some English-language contexts. In scholarly publishing, a korrigendum (often anglicized as corrigendum) is issued to correct errors identified after publication.

In practice, a korrigendum notice describes the nature of the error and provides the corrected information, with precise references to parts of the work such as figures, tables, or data, and to the original page or section. The notice is linked to the original article, and the online version of the article is typically updated. The korrigendum may retain the original publication date while the corrected version is made available; in some cases, the korrigendum has its own DOI.

The distinction between korrigendum and erratum varies by publisher. Traditionally, a korrigendum is used for errors introduced by the authors, whereas an erratum addresses mistakes made by the publisher, though many journals use the terms interchangeably. Outside journals, korrigendum may appear in reference works or legal texts to indicate a published correction.

Etymology: from Latin corrigere, “to correct,” with the form korrigendum adopted in various languages. See also erratum, retraction, and amendment for related corrective notices. The term is less common in everyday language but remains a standard label in formal publication ethics and scholarly publishing practices.