Getting It Right

Care goes into every article here, and mistakes still slip through now and again. A menu moves in a software update, a rule changes, a step that worked on one device does not work on another, or we simply misread something. This page explains what happens when that occurs and how you can help.

What counts as a correction

• Factual errors: a wrong name, date, term or description.
• Outdated information: a menu, setting or regulation that moved on after publication.
• Unclear or risky instructions: a step that could be misunderstood or that needs a stronger safety note.
• Broken links: pages that have moved or vanished.

Differences of taste, such as whether a film deserves its reputation or which snack belongs on the coffee table, are welcome in your emails but are not corrections.

How to report something

Write to us using the details on Say Hello. Tell us which page you mean, quote the line that worries you and, where you can, mention the source that shows the right version. A link to a manufacturer's manual or an official source is the most helpful thing you can send.

What we do next

1. Read and log it. Each report goes onto our shared list with the date it arrived.
2. Check the claim. The writer responsible looks at the original source and the new information side by side.
3. Get a second opinion. Another member of the team reviews the proposed change.
4. Update the page. We fix the text and, for anything more than a small slip, append a dated line below the article describing the change.
5. Reply to you. We let you know what we decided, including when we think the original text was correct and why.

Safety comes first

If a report suggests that following one of our articles could put someone at risk, such as advice around electrics, hot oil or mounting heavy equipment, we treat it as the most urgent kind of correction. Where we cannot confirm the fix quickly, we take the step down or add a clear warning until we can.

Refreshing older guides

Beyond individual reports, we go back through the archive from time to time. Articles about devices and services age the fastest, so pieces like Choosing the Right IPTV Setup get looked at more often than a guide such as How to Make Popcorn on the Stove, which changes very little from year to year.

What we will not do

We do not silently rewrite history. If a significant mistake was published, the corrected article says so. We also do not remove a page simply because someone disagrees with it; we look at the substance of the complaint.

Thank you

Every correction makes the magazine more useful for the next reader. If you have taken the time to tell us about a problem, thank you. You can read more about our approach on The Songbook Crew.