Expression of concern
publisher's note regarding concerns raised about a publication, without retracting its original content
In academic publishing, an expression of concern is a notice issued by a publisher against a particular publication, warning that it may contain errors or be otherwise untrustworthy.
Definitions
Expressions of concern are part of the post-publication process used to maintain the integrity of the scientific record. They are typically issued when credible allegations regarding the validity or ethics of a study arise, but conclusive evidence is not yet available to justify a retraction or correction. In such cases, journal editors may publish a statement indicating that concerns have been raised and that the article is under investigation.
Guidelines and editorial practices
Publishing practices around expressions of concern vary between journals and publishers. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) recommends their use when:
There is inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct.
There is evidence that the findings are unreliable, but the authors' institution has not investigated or refused to investigate.
An investigation is ongoing and a judgment is not yet available.
The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors also acknowledges the role of expressions of concern in its 2019 recommendations that a publisher may choose to issue an expression of concern while an investigation of alleged scientific misconduct is ongoing, and pending its outcome.
COPE further advises that expressions of concern should be clearly labeled, linked to the original article, and should explain the reasons for the concern without making definitive conclusions.
The public source identifies “Expression of concern” as publisher's note regarding concerns raised about a publication, without retracting its original content. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Expression, concern and publisher's.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Expression of concern”, the useful work is to connect “publisher's note regarding concerns raised about a publication, without retracting its original content” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Vocabulary and entity names are the principal evidence signals here, because they determine the precision of every later search. The source revision retrieved here is dated Feb 7, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q56478376. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2019.
A concise general-reference account can conceal disagreements about scope, terminology or the weight assigned to individual sources. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Expression of concern”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Expression of concern primary sources, Expression of concern archive and Expression research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Expression of concern”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Expression of concern” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.