Retraction

The formal withdrawal of a published paper by its journal because its findings can't be relied on, for example because of serious errors or misconduct.

A retracted paper usually stays online, clearly marked as retracted, so the record stays honest. Retractions correct the scholarly record; they aren’t meant as punishment. Reasons include fabricated data, plagiarism and serious mistakes.

Don’t cite a retracted paper as evidence. Its findings are considered unreliable. You can still cite it if you’re writing about the retraction itself. In APA, add the retraction details in parentheses after the reference, for example (Retraction published 2012, Journal Name, 38[10], 1378).

PaperCitation checks every matched paper against retraction notices published through Crossref, which include the Retraction Watch database, and warns you clearly.