Check the publisher record, DOI metadata and any Crossmark status information for linked corrections, retractions, withdrawals or other updates. Record the exact update type rather than reducing every change to “retracted” or “safe.”
Current-status checklist
- Open the canonical publisher record. Look for notices linked from the article landing page and PDF.
- Inspect Crossmark where available. Crossmark can expose status updates that affect crediting or interpretation.
- Retrieve DOI metadata. Check update-to relationships, retraction data and linked notices in registration-agency records.
- Read the notice itself. Identify what changed, which version is affected and whether the finding remains usable.
- Document the date checked. Publication status can change after a reference list was prepared.
Not every update has the same meaning
A correction may repair a limited error while leaving the central findings intact. A retraction usually signals that the work should no longer be relied on as part of the scholarly record, but the notice should still be read for scope and reason. Withdrawals, expressions of concern and version updates carry different evidentiary implications.
Worked use case
A DOI record links to a correction notice changing one table value but not the conclusions. Update the citation trail, read the corrected version and state that the work was corrected. Do not label it retracted or unchanged.
Evidence boundary
Crossmark participation is optional, and metadata may be incomplete or deposited after a delay. No update signal in one service is not proof that the work has never changed. Publisher pages, notices and multiple metadata sources may need to be checked.
Primary sources
- Crossref. Crossmark documentation. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- Crossref. Metadata retrieval documentation. Retrieved 4 August 2026.