Correcting a paper
Post a new version. The old one stays exactly where it was, at its own address, and the paper’s page lists every version with its date and a note saying what changed. Corrections are free and go live at once.
We do not edit a version in place. Anyone who cited version 1 cited those words, and rewriting them underneath would make their citation a lie.
Withdrawing a paper
An author may withdraw their own work; a moderator may withdraw anything that should not have been posted. Either way the reason is recorded and shown.
- The page keeps answering It says the paper was withdrawn, when, and why.
- The manuscript comes down It is no longer available to download.
- The link never breaks Which is the whole point.
When we withdraw something ourselves
- It is not the authors’ own work.
- It is unlawful, or hosting it would put somebody at risk.
- It was posted without the agreement of the people named on it.
We do not withdraw a paper because somebody disagrees with it. That is what the scientific record is for.
These pages describe how the repository works today. When something changes here, it changes because the practice changed.