AbstractIn this paper, we point out that there is a shortcoming of the degree distribution and the analyzing approach of the Apollonian network in [Andrade J S, Herrmann H J, Andrade R F S, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 018702 (2005).]. Because the Apollonian network is a deterministic network, its degree distribution can be directly calculated. We correct the degree distribution of the Apollonian network. We also give a numerical simulation of network evolution. The analytical result agrees with the simulation well. The results show that there is the shortcoming of the results of Herrmann et al.