Methods and apparatuses for ECC (error code correction) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a method for ECC can include receiving a data stream, decoding the data stream according to a first directional ECC scheme, and decoding the data stream according to a second directional ECC scheme. The method also includes outputting an indication of ECC failure if an error count of the first directional ECC scheme or the second directional ECC scheme is below a first threshold value. The method further includes outputting an indication of ECC failure if an unmodified count of the first directional ECC scheme or the second directional ECC scheme is below a second threshold value.