How to Check If a Paper Has Been Retracted: DOI & Retraction Check
Retraction verification
How to Check If a Research Paper Has Been Retracted
Start with the paper's DOI, check the publisher record, and look for registered retraction or update metadata. A retraction check should distinguish a formal retraction from a correction or expression of concern.
Quick answer: how to check whether a paper was retracted
- Find the DOI on the article page, PDF or reference.
- Open the DOI record and confirm that the title, authors and journal match the paper you are checking.
- Check Crossref metadata for updates, including a retraction relation when one has been registered.
- Search the publisher's article page for a retraction notice, expression of concern or correction.
- Check Retraction Watch data when you need an additional retraction-focused source.
Check a paper now
Open the free Retraction Checker
Paste a DOI to check current Crossref metadata for registered retractions, corrections and other publication updates.
What a retraction means
A retraction is a formal notice that a published work should no longer be treated as part of the reliable scholarly record in its original form. Reasons vary and can include unreliable data, major errors, duplicate publication, authorship or ethical problems. A retraction is different from a routine correction, and an expression of concern is not the same as a completed retraction.
Check by DOI first
The DOI is usually the most precise starting point because article titles can change slightly between databases. Resolve the DOI, compare the metadata with the paper in front of you, and then look for linked updates. Crossref makes Retraction Watch retraction data available through its services, while publishers can also deposit their own update relationships.
If the DOI does not resolve, do not immediately conclude that the paper is retracted. First check for a transcription error and search the article title on the publisher's website.
Retraction, correction and expression of concern
| Status | What it generally indicates | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Retraction | The publication has been formally withdrawn from the reliable record. | Read the notice and avoid citing the work as unaffected evidence. |
| Correction | Part of the publication has been corrected. | Read the correction and use the corrected information. |
| Expression of concern | The publisher or editor has publicly flagged an unresolved concern. | Review the notice and use caution until the matter is resolved. |
Where to verify a retraction
- Publisher article page: look for a clearly linked notice and publication history.
- Crossref: inspect DOI metadata and update relationships where available.
- Retraction Watch data: useful for retraction-focused searching and cross-checking.
- PubMed: biomedical records may link publication types or notices, but verify the publisher record as well.
Before citing a paper in a thesis, review or manuscript
Check high-impact or central references again close to submission, especially when the paper is controversial, very recent, or essential to a clinical or policy conclusion. If a paper has been corrected, cite the corrected record. If it has been retracted, read the notice before deciding whether it is appropriate to mention the paper for historical or methodological reasons.
Official and primary resources
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if a paper has been retracted?
Find the DOI, check the publisher article page, inspect Crossref update metadata, and cross-check a retraction-focused source such as Retraction Watch data.
Does a DOI show that a paper was retracted?
A DOI identifies the work. Crossref metadata may contain an update or retraction relationship, but important decisions should also be confirmed on the publisher's article page.
Is an expression of concern the same as a retraction?
No. An expression of concern flags an unresolved issue; a retraction is a formal notice that the publication should no longer be treated as reliable in its original form.
Can a corrected paper still be cited?
Often yes, but read the correction and cite or use the corrected information rather than ignoring the update.
Continue checking the journal or publication
If you are evaluating a journal rather than a single article, use the Journal Checker and the journal verification checklist. Verify claims with the original database or publisher record rather than relying on screenshots, badges or copied metrics.
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