Corrections Policy

How we correct

When we get something wrong we correct it on the same URL, note the date and the nature of the correction at the top of the story, and never silently rewrite history. The original error is described, not deleted from the record, so a reader who saw the first version can see what changed and why.

What counts as a correction

• Factual error: a wrong date, figure, name, quote or sequence of events. Corrected in place, with a dated correction note.
• Missing context: a fact that was true but misleading without context. Clarified in place, with a note explaining the added context.
• Source error: a source misattributed or misquoted. Fixed in the comparison block and in the source list, with a note.
• Minor typo or formatting fix: fixed without a correction note, unless it changes the meaning of a sentence.

What is never corrected by editing

Archive snapshots are immutable. If a snapshot recorded a trend at a given rank at a given time, that record stays as it was recorded, even if later reporting changes the underlying story. A correction to how a snapshot is interpreted goes into the story or topic page as a new note; it does not rewrite the snapshot file. The same rule applies to the daily roll-up: a correction is a new record, not an overwrite.

How to request a correction

Use the Contact page and include the story URL, the exact passage, what you believe is correct, and the source that supports it. Requests without a source are logged but cannot be verified, and will not be treated as confirmed corrections.