  The correct calculation of formation enthalpy is one of the enablers of
ab-initio computational materials design. For several classes of systems (e.g.
oxides) standard density functional theory produces incorrect values. Here we
propose the "Coordination Corrected Enthalpies" method (CCE), based on the
number of nearest neighbor cation-anion bonds, and also capable of correcting
relative stability of polymorphs. CCE uses calculations employing the Perdew,
Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE), Local Density Approximation (LDA) and Strongly
Constrained and Appropriately Normed (SCAN) exchange correlation functionals,
in conjunction with a quasiharmonic Debye model to treat zero-point vibrational
and thermal effects. The benchmark, performed on binary and ternary oxides
(halides), shows very accurate room temperature results for all functionals,
with the smallest mean absolute error of 27 (24) meV/atom obtained with SCAN.
The zero-point vibrational and thermal contributions to the formation
enthalpies are small and with different signs - largely cancelling each other.
