Found a Mistake in Your Submitted Manuscript? Here’s What to Do

It’s a moment every researcher dreads: hours after clicking "submit" on your manuscript, you spot a mistake. It could be a simple typo, a mislabeled figure, or worse—a calculation error that questions your conclusion. Your first reaction might be panic, but don't worry. This is a common situation, and there is a professional and ethical way to handle it.

Acting quickly and transparently is key to maintaining your integrity and ensuring the quality of the scientific record. Your course of action depends on two critical factors:

1. The severity of the error.

2. The current stage of your manuscript in the publication process.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step plan for what to do next.

(Image Alt Text: A flowchart showing the decision process for correcting an error in a submitted manuscript.) (Image Filename: correct-manuscript-error-after-submission.png)

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Step 1: Don't Panic—Assess the Severity of the Error

 

Before you do anything, take a deep breath and objectively evaluate the mistake. Errors fall into two main categories.

 

Minor Errors

 

These are mistakes that do not affect the scientific validity of your results or conclusions. Examples include:

• Typographical or grammatical errors.

• Formatting issues.

• A wrong number in a non-critical table.

• Missing a non-essential citation.

Action: For very minor errors, you can often wait until the copy-editing or proofing stage after acceptance to correct them.

 

Major Errors

 

These are significant mistakes that impact the core findings, methodology, or conclusions of your paper. Examples include:

• A fundamental flaw in your methodology.

• A critical error in data analysis or calculation.

• Incorrect data presented in a key figure or table.

• Forgetting to cite foundational work that changes the context of your study.

• Incorrect author affiliations or a missing author.

Action: Major errors must be addressed immediately by contacting the journal. Ignoring them is unethical and can damage your reputation.

 

Step 2: Determine the Submission Stage and Take Action

 

Your response will depend on where your manuscript is in the pipeline.

 

Scenario 1: Shortly After Submission (Before Peer Review)

 

This is the best-case scenario. The paper is likely still with the editorial office for initial checks.

• What to do: Check the journal's submission portal. Some systems allow you to retract and resubmit a corrected version yourself. If not, contact the journal's editorial office immediately via email. Explain the situation and ask if you can submit a revised file.

 

Scenario 2: During Peer Review

 

The manuscript is with external reviewers. This is a more delicate situation.

• What to do: Contact the journal's handling editor without delay. Do not contact the reviewers. Clearly explain the nature of the error and its impact on the paper. The editor will decide the best course of action, which could be:

  • Pausing the review and sending the corrected version to reviewers.

  • Allowing the review to finish and asking you to address the error during revisions.

  • Rejecting the paper and allowing you to resubmit a corrected version.

 

Scenario 3: After Acceptance (Before Publication)

 

Your paper has been accepted but has not yet been published online. It is likely with the production team.

• What to do: Contact the journal's production editor or managing editor. For minor errors, you can almost always correct them when you receive the page proofs. For major errors, you must inform the editor immediately. They need to know before the article is formally published.

 

Scenario 4: After Publication

 

The error is in the final, published version. This requires a formal, public correction.

• What to do: Contact the journal editor to issue a formal correction notice. There are two main types:

  • Corrigendum: Issued when the authors made the mistake.

  • Erratum: Issued when the publisher made the mistake during the production process.

• In severe cases where the error invalidates the study's entire conclusion, a Retraction may be necessary. While this sounds scary, it is the most responsible action to protect the integrity of scientific literature.

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How to Contact the Editor: An Email Template

 

When emailing the journal, be professional, concise, and clear.

Subject: Urgent: Correction for Manuscript ID [#YourManuscriptID] - "[Your Manuscript Title]"

Body:

Dear [Editor's Name],

I am writing to you regarding our recently submitted manuscript, "[Your Manuscript Title]" (Manuscript ID: #YourManuscriptID).

After submission, we discovered a [minor/major] error in the [describe the location, e.g., 'methodology section' / 'Figure 3' / 'data analysis'].

Specifically, [briefly and clearly describe the error and what is incorrect]. This error [explain the impact, e.g., 'does not affect the final conclusions' / 'significantly impacts the results presented in Table 2'].

We sincerely apologize for this oversight. We have already prepared a corrected version of the manuscript and a separate document detailing the changes made. Please let us know how you would prefer us to proceed.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] Corresponding Author

 

Conclusion: Integrity is Everything

 

Finding a mistake in your work can be disheartening, but how you handle it defines your integrity as a researcher. Editors and reviewers understand that mistakes happen. By addressing the issue promptly, honestly, and transparently, you not only correct the scientific record but also reinforce your reputation as a responsible and trustworthy member of the academic community.