It depends on the nature of the error(s). It appears from the discussion that these are not errors in assumption or derivation, but rather transcription errors. In this case as you include the correct formula in your paper, you could add a footnote or parenthetical statement that says "this corrects minor error in the expression presented in [cited ref]". Errors of this nature, and more serious ones as well, do occur, more frequently than we care to admit. The main thing is not to propagate them.

Dear Vittorio,

Each piece of research depends on other studies in the same field. This is part of what is known as literature review. Since the paper you are talking about touches on the same issue(s) as you are dealing with, therefore it should be mentioned as part of your review. And since a review should be critical, you may need to point out the flaws of this paper or its conclusions as a way of establishing yours as a more genuine contribution to knowledge. So, the answer to your question is : YES, it is your job as a researcher to point out flaws in research (methodological or other), but tactfully and considerately.

Dear Zouheir Maalej thank for the answer. To clarify better my doubts: I would not define the mistakes in that paper as "flaws". The mistaken images and formulas of that paper regard something preliminary that comes from Newton mechanics. I guess it was just some kind of distraction of the authors and I am sure it did not affect final results and meaning of the paper. (I doubt they used the wrong formulas in calculations). Yet I am kind of embarrassed to make reference to formulas that have a "minus" sign where there should be a plus" sign and to an image which is showing a vector which is obviously pointing to the wrong point in space.

Therefore, use your tact and consideration to do whatever pleases you and does justice to other authors.

You could perhaps refer to the errors as "typographical errors" in a footnote. Or else if the journal in question is an online journal, you might contact the editor, who can confirm the errors with the author and have the online document changed. (I myself had this done once when I noticed an error, although I was not submitting a paper.)

If some error has been left by an author in any of previous work then as a researcher we should not carry that mistake in our paper. We must represent the correct formula in our manuscript. If need arises then we should point out that mistake critically by giving reference of the earlier paper. This is research, so it is our job as a researcher to point out any flaw that is existing in the literature.

Thanks

It depends on the nature of the error(s). It appears from the discussion that these are not errors in assumption or derivation, but rather transcription errors. In this case as you include the correct formula in your paper, you could add a footnote or parenthetical statement that says "this corrects minor error in the expression presented in [cited ref]". Errors of this nature, and more serious ones as well, do occur, more frequently than we care to admit. The main thing is not to propagate them.

Good question and useful responses.

Interesting and useful view points.

I prefer you should address this issue in your paper

Typically, published articles are subject to "Discussions" where other scholars can react to published work. If no one caught the error, then you can write your own paper and examine other published work. It will be up to the reviewers to decide whether to publish your work and not the editor.

I agree with Dr. Karl Pfeifer

following

I second the opinion of Dr. Mahmassani as well as some of the other similar comments:

Point out the mistakes/errors, but keep it short, and do not argue with the previous authors. Everyone can make mistakes, and the purpose of correcting is mostly to let the readers being better able to follow the development in the original paper.

Whatever be the mode and tools for the correction depending upon its nature of the error and journal too, the correction is better, i suppose.

Should correct the error with citation.

Write the "Letter to Editor". Regards,