• An article on macular disease referred to the affected spot on the retina throughout as the macular. To clarify: the macula is the name of the small area on the retina that contains the greatest concentration of our photoreceptors, "macular" is the adjective. In the same feature, a short item on early-onset hearing loss recommended an online hearing test to readers. We would like to make clear that the only reliable test is a diagnostic checkup in a clinic (Health, The Inside track . . .; and Three-minute fix, Turn off your MP3, 19 April, page 16, G2).
• An extended picture caption that accompanied the photograph of the third incarnation of the VW Beetle wrongly stated that the car had been redesigned three times, that should have been twice. The caption also said that the new Beetle had a turbocharged engine for the first time when turbocharged versions of the car have been available for 10 years (German drive, 19 April, page 24).
• A story reporting on the problems of the US economy following the announcement that the Standard & Poor's ratings agency had issued a strong warning about the failure of the US to tackle its budget deficit stated that the US had very large budget deficits "which reached as high as 11%" in 2009. To clarify: the budget deficit reached as high as 11% of US GDP (Worst since Pearl Harbor: debt blow for US economy, 19 April, page 1).