erratum

An erratum, plural errata, is a notice of a correction to a published work. It records errors identified after publication in print or online and provides the corrected information. Errata may address typographical mistakes, incorrect data, mislabeled figures, author names or affiliations, or other factual errors that do not undermine the work’s overall conclusions. In scholarly publishing, the responsibility for issuing an erratum typically lies with the publisher and, where appropriate, the authors.

Origin and usage: The term derives from Latin errare “to wander,” with the sense of an error or misstep. In historic printing, an errata slip listing corrections was physically inserted into copies. Today, errata are issued as a short notice linked to the original item and may be incorporated into an online version or later print editions.

Relation to other corrections: An erratum usually indicates an error introduced during production or writing that does not invalidate the results. Corrections arising from author mistakes may be labeled corrigendum in some journals, while a retraction is reserved for cases where the work’s conclusions are deemed unreliable or fraudulent.

Formats and impact: Errata can appear as a separate page in a journal issue, as an online linked correction, or as part of an updated edition. They serve to preserve the accuracy of the scholarly record and help readers interpret the work correctly, without implying misconduct. See also: corrigendum, retraction, errata sheet.