What constitutes a factual error requiring a correction versus an update?

• A. A factual error requires a correction; new information or changes merit an update or clarification with a label.
• B. Corrections and updates are identical.
• C. Updates should never include labels.
• D. Corrections should be made only for legal issues.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is telling apart when something in content is simply wrong versus when new information has emerged since it was written. A factual error is an incorrect statement or data point in the piece. When that happens, you fix it with a correction that clearly identifies the wrong part and provides the accurate information so readers aren’t misled.

Updates, on the other hand, aren’t about fixing something that was wrong. They reflect new information, changed circumstances, or expansions of the topic after the original publication. Instead of erasing or rewriting, you add an update and label it so readers know what has changed and when. That label preserves transparency and helps maintain trust, showing both the old content and the new information.

So a correction is about accuracy of existing facts; an update is about adding or clarifying information that has changed since publication, with a clear notice of what was added or changed. This distinction keeps the record precise and helps readers follow the evolution of the information.

Choices that imply corrections and updates are the same, or that updates shouldn’t be labeled, or that corrections apply only to legal issues, don’t fit because they miss how errors are fixed differently from new information and how labeling is used to communicate changes.