{"id":1891,"date":"2026-08-24T00:58:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T19:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?p=1891"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T15:52:19","slug":"what-is-a-preprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Preprint? The Complete 2026 Guide for Researchers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A preprint is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-good-research-paper\/\">complete research paper<\/a> posted publicly, with a DOI, before peer review; it is citable, permanent, and free to read, but it has not been formally validated.<\/li>\n<li>Preprints are now mainstream infrastructure: bioRxiv and medRxiv alone host more than 389,000 manuscripts, and roughly 80% of them go on to appear in peer-reviewed journals, on average 250 days after posting.<\/li>\n<li>The decisions that matter most happen at the moment of posting: which server, which license, and whether a patent filing needs to come first. All 3 are difficult or impossible to reverse.<\/li>\n<li>Preprints are no longer a stage before peer review; they are increasingly a place where peer review happens, through platforms such as PREreview, Review Commons, Peer Community In, and the eLife reviewed preprint model.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Glossary_of_Key_Terms\" >Glossary of Key Terms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_Is_a_Preprint\" >What Is a Preprint?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_a_preprint_is_not\" >What a preprint is not:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Do_Preprints_Differ_from_Published_Journal_Articles\" >How Do Preprints Differ from Published Journal Articles?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Big_Is_the_Preprint_Ecosystem_in_2026\" >How Big Is the Preprint Ecosystem in 2026?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Do_You_Post_a_Preprint\" >How Do You Post a Preprint?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#The_arXiv_Endorsement_System\" >The arXiv Endorsement System<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Who_Needs_an_Endorsement\" >Who Needs an Endorsement?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_to_Request_an_Endorsement\" >How to Request an Endorsement<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Major_Preprint_Servers_by_Discipline\" >Major Preprint Servers by Discipline<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Discipline-Specific_Servers\" >Discipline-Specific Servers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Multidisciplinary_and_Regional_Servers\" >Multidisciplinary and Regional Servers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Do_You_Choose_the_Right_Preprint_Server\" >How Do You Choose the Right Preprint Server?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Screening_and_Speed\" >Screening and Speed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Licensing_Withdrawal_and_Indexing\" >Licensing, Withdrawal, and Indexing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_License_Should_You_Choose_for_Your_Preprint\" >What License Should You Choose for Your Preprint?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#License_Options_Compared\" >License Options Compared<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_the_License_Choice_Actually_Affects\" >What the License Choice Actually Affects<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#The_Benefits_of_Posting_a_Preprint\" >The Benefits of Posting a Preprint<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Establishing_Priority_and_Getting_Credit\" >Establishing Priority and Getting Credit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Early_and_Broader_Feedback\" >Early and Broader Feedback<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Increased_Visibility_and_Citations\" >Increased Visibility and Citations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Open_Access_Without_Article_Processing_Charges\" >Open Access Without Article Processing Charges<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Benefits_for_Early-Career_Researchers\" >Benefits for Early-Career Researchers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Preprint_Review_The_Layer_Most_Guides_Miss\" >Preprint Review: The Layer Most Guides Miss<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_Is_Preprint_Review\" >What Is Preprint Review?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Where_Preprint_Review_Happens\" >Where Preprint Review Happens<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Why_This_Matters_for_Your_Decision\" >Why This Matters for Your Decision<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Do_Preprints_Affect_Patents_and_Intellectual_Property\" >Do Preprints Affect Patents and Intellectual Property?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Grace_Periods_by_Jurisdiction\" >Grace Periods by Jurisdiction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Practical_Steps_Before_You_Post\" >Practical Steps Before You Post<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Do_You_Cite_a_Preprint\" >How Do You Cite a Preprint?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Formats_by_Style\" >Formats by Style<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Rules_That_Apply_Across_All_Styles\" >Rules That Apply Across All Styles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Citing_a_Preprint_That_Has_Since_Been_Published\" >Citing a Preprint That Has Since Been Published<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Do_You_Withdraw_or_Correct_a_Preprint\" >How Do You Withdraw or Correct a Preprint?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Your_Options_Compared\" >Your Options Compared<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Versioning_Works\" >How Versioning Works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#If_Your_Preprint_Turns_Out_to_Be_Wrong\" >If Your Preprint Turns Out to Be Wrong<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-40\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Field-Specific_Norms_and_Expectations\" >Field-Specific Norms and Expectations<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-41\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Physics_Mathematics_and_Computer_Science\" >Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-42\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Life_Sciences_and_Clinical_Research\" >Life Sciences and Clinical Research<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-43\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Economics_Finance_and_Law\" >Economics, Finance, and Law<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-44\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Psychology_Social_Sciences_and_Humanities\" >Psychology, Social Sciences, and Humanities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-45\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Regional_and_Multilingual_Considerations\" >Regional and Multilingual Considerations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-46\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Preprints_in_the_Age_of_Generative_AI\" >Preprints in the Age of Generative AI<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-47\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_Changed\" >What Changed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-48\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#What_This_Means_for_You\" >What This Means for You<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-49\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Preprints_as_AI_Training_Data\" >Preprints as AI Training Data<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-50\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_Do_You_Promote_a_Preprint\" >How Do You Promote a Preprint?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-51\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Limitations_and_Risks_You_Should_Understand\" >Limitations and Risks You Should Understand<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-52\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Preprints_Are_Not_Peer_Reviewed\" >Preprints Are Not Peer Reviewed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-53\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Media_Misinterpretation_Is_a_Real_Risk\" >Media Misinterpretation Is a Real Risk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Journal_Policies_Still_Vary\" >Journal Policies Still Vary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Confidentiality_Sensitive_Data_and_Consent\" >Confidentiality, Sensitive Data, and Consent<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-56\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#The_One_Genuine_Scooping_Risk\" >The One Genuine Scooping Risk<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-57\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Preprints_in_the_Broader_Scholarly_Landscape\" >Preprints in the Broader Scholarly Landscape<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-58\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Should_You_Post_a_Preprint\" >Should You Post a Preprint?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-59\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-61\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Is_a_preprint_considered_a_publication\" >Is a preprint considered a publication?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-62\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Can_I_submit_a_preprint_to_a_journal_after_posting_it\" >Can I submit a preprint to a journal after posting it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-63\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#How_long_does_it_take_for_a_preprint_to_be_published_in_a_journal\" >How long does it take for a preprint to be published in a journal?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-64\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Do_preprints_count_for_tenure_promotion_or_grant_applications\" >Do preprints count for tenure, promotion, or grant applications?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-65\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Can_you_get_scooped_by_posting_a_preprint\" >Can you get scooped by posting a preprint?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-66\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Are_preprints_indexed_in_PubMed_and_Google_Scholar\" >Are preprints indexed in PubMed and Google Scholar?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-67\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Can_I_post_a_preprint_after_my_paper_has_been_rejected_by_a_journal\" >Can I post a preprint after my paper has been rejected by a journal?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-68\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Is_it_acceptable_to_cite_a_preprint_in_a_systematic_review_or_meta-analysis\" >Is it acceptable to cite a preprint in a systematic review or meta-analysis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-69\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Is_ResearchGate_a_preprint_server\" >Is ResearchGate a preprint server?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-70\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Can_I_upload_my_preprint_to_ResearchGate_as_well_as_a_preprint_server\" >Can I upload my preprint to ResearchGate as well as a preprint server?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-71\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Do_Elsevier_journals_allow_preprints\" >Do Elsevier journals allow preprints?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-72\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/#Sources_and_Further_Reading\" >Sources and Further Reading<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Glossary_of_Key_Terms\"><\/span>Glossary of Key Terms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\"><strong>Term<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"417\"><strong>What it means<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Preprint<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A full draft of a research paper made publicly available before peer review and journal publication.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Preprint server<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">An online repository that screens, hosts, and assigns identifiers to preprints, such as arXiv or bioRxiv.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Screening<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">The basic check a server performs before posting: plagiarism, scope, ethics statements, and obvious non-research content. It is not peer review.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">DOI<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Digital Object Identifier. A permanent, resolvable identifier that makes a preprint citable and trackable.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Version of Record (VOR)<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">The final, copyedited, peer-reviewed article published by a journal.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM)<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">The peer-reviewed manuscript accepted by a journal, before the publisher&#8217;s copyediting and typesetting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Postprint<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A loose term for the AAM. Distinct from a preprint, which precedes review.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Preprint review<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Structured, often public and signed, evaluation of a preprint carried out independently of a journal.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Publish-Review-Curate (PRC)<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A model in which the work is posted first, reviewed openly second, and curated or assessed third, with no accept or reject gate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Overlay journal<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A journal that peer reviews and curates papers already hosted on a preprint server rather than hosting them itself.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Endorsement<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">arXiv&#8217;s system requiring a first-time submitter in most categories to be vouched for by an established arXiv author.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Ingelfinger rule<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A now-rare journal policy treating prior public posting as prior publication and grounds for rejection.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Interim research product<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">The NIH term for a preprint or other output that may be cited in grant applications and progress reports.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Scooping<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Having your finding published first by another group. A preprint timestamp is protection against this, not a cause of it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Altmetrics<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Measures of online attention such as news coverage, policy citations, and social posts, distinct from citation counts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">APC<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Article Processing Charge. The fee many open-access journals charge authors. Preprints carry no APC.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">CC license<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A Creative Commons license setting out what others may legally do with your posted manuscript.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Text and data mining (TDM)<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Automated extraction and analysis of text, including the use of manuscripts to train machine learning models.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Grace period<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A window in patent law during which an inventor&#8217;s own public disclosure does not destroy novelty. It varies sharply by country.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Withdrawal<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Marking a posted preprint as no longer valid. The record and a notice remain; the content is not erased.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Preprint\"><\/span>What Is a Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A preprint is a full draft of a research paper that is made freely available online before it has been peer reviewed or published in a journal. It carries a DOI, so it is citable and permanent from day 1.<\/p>\n<p>Think of it as the manuscript in near-final form, complete with methods, results, figures, and references, shared openly while the formal review process catches up. Preprints are posted on dedicated repositories called preprint servers.<\/p>\n<p>A preprint is not a lesser form of research output. It is an earlier one. The content is usually identical or near-identical to what will be submitted to a journal; what differs is the amount of external validation attached to it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_a_preprint_is_not\"><\/span>What a preprint is not:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>It is not a summary, abstract, or conference poster. It is the whole paper.<\/li>\n<li>It is not a peer-reviewed article, and no server claims otherwise.<\/li>\n<li>It is not a duplicate publication under the policies of most journals.<\/li>\n<li>It is not editable after posting. You add versions; you do not overwrite history.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_Preprints_Differ_from_Published_Journal_Articles\"><\/span>How Do Preprints Differ from Published Journal Articles?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The core difference is validation, not content. A preprint is screened but not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/peer-review-definition-types-process-timelines\/\">peer reviewed<\/a>; a journal article is peer reviewed, copyedited, and typeset. Both carry DOIs and both are citable.<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Preprint<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Published journal article<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Peer reviewed<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">No. Basic screening only<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Freely available<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes, always<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Depends on the journal&#8217;s access model<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">DOI assigned<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Citable<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Typical time to public access<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">1-3 days<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">6 months to 2 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Copyedited and typeset<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">No<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Cost to the author<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">None<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">None, or an APC of roughly 1,000 to 12,000 USD (covered by the funder or author\u2019s institution in most cases)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Considered final<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">No<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Can be revised after posting<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes, through versioning<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Only through correction or retraction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Counts as prior publication<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Almost never<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Big_Is_the_Preprint_Ecosystem_in_2026\"><\/span>How Big Is the Preprint Ecosystem in 2026?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Large, and still growing. bioRxiv and medRxiv together host more than 389,000 preprints from authors in over 170 countries, and 2025 was their busiest year on record. arXiv peaked at roughly 24,000 submissions per month.<\/p>\n<p>Figures worth knowing before you decide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>bioRxiv received 49,256 new manuscripts in 2025; medRxiv received 14,973. That is more than 6,000 per month across the 2 servers.<\/li>\n<li>Those servers record more than 8 million page views and 6 million downloads per month.<\/li>\n<li>Manuscripts typically appear 48-72 hours after submission.<\/li>\n<li>About 80% of bioRxiv and medRxiv preprints are later published in a peer-reviewed journal, on average 250 days after posting.<\/li>\n<li>That 250-day figure is the practical case for preprinting: it is the length of the visibility gap you close.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The 80% conversion rate matters for a second reason. It undercuts the claim that preprinting replaces peer review. In practice it front-loads dissemination while the review process runs in parallel.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Post_a_Preprint\"><\/span>How Do You Post a Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You upload the manuscript to a server, it passes a screening check, and it goes live with a DOI, usually within 1-3 days. There is no editorial decision and no revision round.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Prepare the manuscript. Use the same version you are submitting, or about to submit, to a journal.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm all coauthors agree. Posting without consensus creates disputes that are hard to unwind.<\/li>\n<li>Check the target journal&#8217;s preprint policy and your funder&#8217;s requirements.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a server appropriate to your field and, if relevant, your funder&#8217;s mandate.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a license. This is a substantive decision, covered in detail below.<\/li>\n<li>Upload, and complete the ethics, competing interests, funding, and data availability declarations.<\/li>\n<li>Wait for screening. Staff check for plagiarism, scope, obvious non-research content, and, on health-related servers, potential harm.<\/li>\n<li>The preprint goes live with a DOI and becomes publicly citable.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/respond-to-reviewer-comments\/#How_to_Respond_to_Comments_on_a_Preprint\">Respond to comments<\/a>, requests, and review invitations.<\/li>\n<li>Post new versions as the manuscript evolves, and link the journal article when it appears.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_arXiv_Endorsement_System\"><\/span>The arXiv Endorsement System<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>arXiv adds a requirement no other major server has: endorsement. Before your first submission to most subject categories, an established arXiv author must vouch that your work is legitimate research suitable for that category.<\/p>\n<p>Endorsers are not evaluating quality or correctness. They are confirming basic suitability, which is why the request is a small ask rather than an imposition on a senior colleague.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Needs_an_Endorsement\"><\/span>Who Needs an Endorsement?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most first-time submitters to a given category. You are automatically exempt in 3 situations, and arXiv will tell you at submission if endorsement applies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You have previously submitted to that subject category.<\/li>\n<li>Your email address is registered to an academic institution arXiv recognizes.<\/li>\n<li>The specific category does not require endorsement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Request_an_Endorsement\"><\/span>How to Request an Endorsement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Identify an endorser active in your target category: a supervisor, collaborator, or senior colleague.<\/li>\n<li>Start a submission in arXiv. If endorsement is required, arXiv generates a unique request link.<\/li>\n<li>Send the link with a short explanation of the work. Include your ORCID or institutional page as evidence that you are a working researcher.<\/li>\n<li>Do not send the full manuscript. At this point the paper is not yet posted and carries no timestamp, so circulating it broadly is the one genuine scooping risk in the whole process.<\/li>\n<li>Once the endorser confirms, that category is unlocked permanently.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Preprint_Servers_by_Discipline\"><\/span>Major Preprint Servers by Discipline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The landscape now includes discipline-specific servers, multidisciplinary platforms, and regional repositories serving non-English research communities.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Discipline-Specific_Servers\"><\/span>Discipline-Specific Servers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Server<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Disciplines covered<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Operated by<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">arXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Physics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative biology, statistics, economics, electrical engineering<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Cornell University<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">bioRxiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Biology and the life sciences<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">openRxiv<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">medRxiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Clinical and health sciences<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">openRxiv, with BMJ and Yale<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">ChemRxiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Chemistry and chemical engineering<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">American Chemical Society with partner societies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">PsyArXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Psychological sciences<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">SocArXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Social sciences<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">University of Maryland with the Center for Open Science<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">EarthArXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Earth, planetary, and environmental sciences<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Community-run, volunteer moderated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">SSRN<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Social sciences, law, economics, finance<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Elsevier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">RePEc and NBER<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Economics working papers<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Distributed volunteer network; NBER<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Multidisciplinary_and_Regional_Servers\"><\/span>Multidisciplinary and Regional Servers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Server<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Coverage<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Note<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Research Square<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">All disciplines<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Integrated with the In Review service of many Springer Nature journals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Preprints.org<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">All disciplines<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Operated by MDPI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">SciELO Preprints<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">All disciplines, Latin America and Iberia<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Multilingual; strong in Portuguese and Spanish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">ChinaXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">All disciplines, China<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">AfricArXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">All disciplines, Africa<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Community-run; supports multiple African languages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">OSF-hosted community servers<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Varies by community<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The generalist OSF preprint service stopped accepting new submissions in August 2025; community servers such as PsyArXiv continue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/asapbio.org\/preprint-servers\/\">ASAPbio preprint server directory<\/a> maintains the most complete comparison of server policies and is worth checking before you commit, because policies often change.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Choose_the_Right_Preprint_Server\"><\/span>How Do You Choose the Right Preprint Server?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Match the server to your field first, then to your funder&#8217;s mandate, then to the operational details: screening depth, license options, withdrawal policy, and indexing. Field convention usually settles it.<\/p>\n<p>Ask these questions in order:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Where do the researchers I want to reach actually read preprints? Convention beats features.<\/li>\n<li>Does my funder or institution require a specific server or license?<\/li>\n<li>Does my target journal have a direct transfer arrangement with a particular server?<\/li>\n<li>Does the server&#8217;s license menu include the license I need?<\/li>\n<li>Is the content clinical? If it could influence patient care, the higher-scrutiny route is the correct one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Screening_and_Speed\"><\/span>Screening and Speed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Server<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Typical time to post<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Screening approach<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">arXiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">1-2 business days<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Moderator review by category; endorsement required for most first-time submitters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">bioRxiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">48-72 hours<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Checks for plagiarism, scope, and non-research content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">medRxiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">48-72 hours, sometimes longer<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Additional scrutiny for clinical risk, patient identifiability, and trial registration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">ChemRxiv<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">1-3 business days<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Screening for scope, safety, and research integrity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">SSRN<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">1-3 business days<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Light screening for scope and legitimacy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Research Square<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">1-3 business days<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Screening plus optional editorial checks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Licensing_Withdrawal_and_Indexing\"><\/span>Licensing, Withdrawal, and Indexing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Consideration<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>What varies between servers<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>What to check before posting<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">License menu<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Some servers offer the full Creative Commons range plus CC0; others offer a narrow set or a restrictive default<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Whether the license your funder mandates is on the menu<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Default license<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Defaults differ, and a default is easy to accept without noticing<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The license actually selected on your submission form<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Withdrawal<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">All major servers leave a public withdrawal notice; none delete the record<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The exact wording the server will display in your place<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Versioning and DOIs<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Some servers mint a version-specific DOI; others keep 1 DOI with version suffixes<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Which DOI you should give collaborators and cite<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Indexing<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Coverage in Google Scholar, Europe PMC, the Preprint Citation Index, and PubMed varies<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Whether your work will surface where your readers search<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Journal transfer<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Some servers push directly into journal submission systems<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Whether transfer saves you a resubmission step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Cost<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The major servers are free to authors<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Whether any optional service attached to the server carries a fee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Server policies are revised more frequently than any guide can track. Treat the tables above as a checklist of what to verify on the server&#8217;s own policy page, not as a substitute for reading it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_License_Should_You_Choose_for_Your_Preprint\"><\/span>What License Should You Choose for Your Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Choose the most open license your funder, coauthors, and institution permit, which for most researchers means CC BY. The license is selected at upload, it is difficult to walk back, and it determines how your work can legally be reused.<\/p>\n<p>This is the single most consequential decision most authors make without thinking about it. Servers present it as a dropdown; it functions as a contract.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"License_Options_Compared\"><\/span>License Options Compared<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>License<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>What others may do<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Best suited to<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">CC BY<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Reuse, adapt, translate, and mine, commercially or not, with attribution<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Maximum reach; required by several major funders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">CC BY-SA<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">As CC BY, but derivatives must carry the same license<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Authors who want openness to propagate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">CC BY-NC<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Reuse and adapt for non-commercial purposes only<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Authors wary of commercial republication, at the cost of some legitimate reuse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">CC BY-ND<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Redistribute verbatim only; no adaptations<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Authors worried about distortion; note that this blocks translation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">CC BY-NC-ND<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Non-commercial, verbatim redistribution only<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The most restrictive Creative Commons option; limits reach considerably<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">CC0<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Anything, without attribution requirements<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Datasets and authors prioritizing frictionless reuse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Server default, all rights reserved<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Read and cite only; no reuse without permission<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Authors with unresolved IP or commercial constraints<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_License_Choice_Actually_Affects\"><\/span>What the License Choice Actually Affects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Funder compliance. Some major funders require CC BY on the preprint itself, not just on the final article. A restrictive license can put you out of compliance.<\/li>\n<li>CC BY-ND and CC BY-NC-ND block translations, which disproportionately limits readership outside English-speaking countries.<\/li>\n<li>Text and data mining. Restrictive licenses limit legitimate systematic reviews and meta-analyses more reliably than they limit anything else.<\/li>\n<li>Journal acceptance. Most journals accept preprints under any license, but a small number object to CC BY on the preprint because it complicates their own rights position. Check first.<\/li>\n<li>Creative Commons licenses cannot be revoked for copies already distributed. You can relicense future versions; you cannot claw back the past.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Benefits_of_Posting_a_Preprint\"><\/span>The Benefits of Posting a Preprint<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The advantages cluster into 5 areas: priority, feedback, visibility, open access, and career evidence. They compound, which is why researchers who preprint once tend to keep doing it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Establishing_Priority_and_Getting_Credit\"><\/span>Establishing Priority and Getting Credit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Posting a preprint creates a timestamped, publicly verifiable record of your work. Servers log the submission date, usually to within 24 hours of posting, and that date is permanently open for anyone to check.<\/p>\n<p>In a competitive field where formal publication can take 250 days or more, that timestamp is the cleanest evidence of priority available to you. It is more robust than a conference abstract and far more robust than a lab notebook.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_and_Broader_Feedback\"><\/span>Early and Broader Feedback<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Traditional peer review draws on 2 or 3 reviewers chosen by an editor. A preprint exposes the work to the entire field immediately. Readers can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Flag methodological problems before they enter the permanent record.<\/li>\n<li>Suggest datasets, controls, or analyses that strengthen the argument.<\/li>\n<li>Point to related work you missed, which is often the most valuable form of feedback.<\/li>\n<li>Propose collaborations that change the shape of the final paper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Increased_Visibility_and_Citations\"><\/span>Increased Visibility and Citations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Preprinting is associated with greater attention to the eventual journal article. Crossref links preprints to their published counterparts, so attention accumulated during the review period flows to the journal article rather than dissipating.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Open_Access_Without_Article_Processing_Charges\"><\/span>Open Access Without Article Processing Charges<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Preprints are open by construction. Anyone can read them regardless of institutional subscriptions, and posting costs nothing. As APCs at open-access journals have climbed, this has become a substantive equity argument, not just a convenience.<\/p>\n<p>Natalia Reinic Babic, Head of Journal Publishing and Open Science at IntechOpen, made the point directly in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/open-access-week-2022-special-open-access-content-removes-barriers-and-encourages-equity-interview-with-natalia-reinic-babic-intechopen\">Editage Insights interview<\/a>, noting that with the growth of preprints, \u201cthe time taken for research to be shared is reduced.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_for_Early-Career_Researchers\"><\/span>Benefits for Early-Career Researchers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrating output during the long gap between finishing the work and publishing it.<\/li>\n<li>Building a visible record before a publication list exists.<\/li>\n<li>Attracting collaborators and, in practice, attracting journal editors who scan servers for submissions.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthening fellowship and job applications, since the NIH and other funders accept preprints as interim research products.<\/li>\n<li>Protecting yourself. A timestamped preprint is leverage a junior researcher would otherwise not have in a priority dispute.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preprint_Review_The_Layer_Most_Guides_Miss\"><\/span>Preprint Review: The Layer Most Guides Miss<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most guides describe preprints as the stage before peer review. That description is roughly 7 years out of date. A substantial review ecosystem now operates directly on preprints, independently of journals.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Preprint_Review\"><\/span>What Is Preprint Review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is structured evaluation of a preprint carried out outside the journal system, usually published openly and often signed. The reviews attach to the preprint, are citable, and travel with the manuscript.<\/p>\n<p>This inverts the traditional sequence. Instead of review deciding whether the work becomes public, the work is public and review becomes a layer of assessment on top of it. The shorthand for this is publish-review-curate.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Leonid Schneider, a cell biologist turned science journalist, put the case for the open version bluntly in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/preprints-have-enormous-potential-to-revolutionize-peer-review-and-science\">Editage Insights interview<\/a>, saying there is \u201cno better peer review than the open, signed and discussible review of a preprint,\u201d and adding that he hopes more scientists will take part in it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Preprint_Review_Happens\"><\/span>Where Preprint Review Happens<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Initiative<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>What it does<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Run by<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prereview.org\/en-us\">PREreview<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Open platform for requesting and writing preprint reviews; trains early-career and under-represented researchers as reviewers<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Nonprofit community organization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewcommons.org\/\">Review Commons<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Journal-independent peer review; the resulting reports can be transferred with the manuscript to affiliate journals<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">ASAPbio and EMBO Press<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/peercommunityin.org\/\">Peer Community In (PCI)<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Communities of researchers that review and publicly recommend preprints; recommendations are free and citable<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Researcher-led, nonprofit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elifesciences.org\/reviewed-preprints\">eLife reviewed preprints<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">eLife reviews preprints and publishes the reviews plus an eLife assessment, with no accept or reject decision<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">eLife<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sciety.org\/\">Sciety<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Aggregates evaluations from multiple groups so readers can follow reviewed preprints in one place<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">eLife<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biophysicscolab.org\/\">Biophysics Colab<\/a> and similar colabs<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Discipline-specific collaborative review of preprints<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Researcher communities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><a href=\"https:\/\/metaror.org\/\">MetaROR<\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Open review and curation for metaresearch and research-on-research<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Research on Research Institute and partners<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_This_Matters_for_Your_Decision\"><\/span>Why This Matters for Your Decision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>A reviewed preprint carries evidence of quality that a bare preprint does not, which changes how it reads on a CV or in a grant application.<\/li>\n<li>Review Commons and PCI reports can shorten the journal process, because affiliate journals accept the existing reports rather than starting over.<\/li>\n<li>Requesting a PREreview is free, and early-career reviewers often engage more thoroughly than time-pressed senior reviewers.<\/li>\n<li>Open review is still a minority practice. Schneider&#8217;s own diagnosis is that fear of retaliation, not indifference, is what keeps most researchers from reviewing openly.<\/li>\n<li>AI-assisted feedback tools are entering this space; openRxiv began piloting <a href=\"https:\/\/openrxiv.org\/enabling-review-options\/\">structured automated feedback for authors<\/a> in 2025. Treat these as a supplement, not a substitute.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Preprints_Affect_Patents_and_Intellectual_Property\"><\/span>Do Preprints Affect Patents and Intellectual Property?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, significantly. A preprint is a public disclosure, and in most of the world a public disclosure before filing destroys patent novelty. If your work may be patentable, file first and post second.<\/p>\n<p>Most preprint guides reduce this to a single line advising you to contact your technology transfer office. That advice is correct but insufficient, because the consequences differ sharply by jurisdiction and are irreversible.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grace_Periods_by_Jurisdiction\"><\/span>Grace Periods by Jurisdiction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Jurisdiction<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Grace period for the inventor&#8217;s own disclosure<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Practical effect<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">United States<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">12 months under the America Invents Act<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">You can still file for 1 year after posting, but you lose the ability to file elsewhere<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">European Patent Office<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">None in general<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">A preprint posted before filing can bar patentability outright<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Japan<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">12 months, with procedural requirements<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Available, but the paperwork must be filed correctly and on time<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Canada<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">12 months<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Similar in effect to the US position<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Australia<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">12 months<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Similar in effect to the US position<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">China<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">6 months, narrow circumstances only<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Should not be relied on for an ordinary preprint posting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The asymmetry is the trap. Researchers in the US often assume the 12-month grace period is universal. It is not. Posting a preprint before filing typically forecloses European patent protection permanently, even though your US position remains intact.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_Steps_Before_You_Post\"><\/span>Practical Steps Before You Post<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask whether anything in the manuscript is patentable. Composition, method, device, and use claims are the usual candidates.<\/li>\n<li>If yes, contact your technology transfer office before posting, not after. This is the only step in the whole process that cannot be corrected later.<\/li>\n<li>Consider filing a provisional application first. In the US this is comparatively inexpensive and establishes a filing date.<\/li>\n<li>Check industry sponsorship agreements, material transfer agreements, and nondisclosure agreements. Many impose review periods before publication of any kind.<\/li>\n<li>Check whether your institution requires invention disclosure before public release. Many do, and preprints count.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This section is general information, not legal advice. Patent law is jurisdiction-specific and fact-specific, and a qualified patent attorney is the right source for a decision about your own work.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Cite_a_Preprint\"><\/span>How Do You Cite a Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cite it like a journal article, but name the server in place of the journal, include the DOI, and label it as a preprint. If a peer-reviewed version now exists, cite that instead.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Formats_by_Style\"><\/span>Formats by Style<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\"><strong>Style<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"417\"><strong>Pattern for a preprint citation<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">APA 7<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Author, A. A., &amp; Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the preprint. Repository Name. https:\/\/doi.org\/xxxxx<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">AMA 11<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Author AA, Author BB. Title of the preprint. Preprint. Posted online Month Day, Year. doi:10.xxxx\/xxxxx<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Vancouver \/ NLM<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Author AA, Author BB. Title of the preprint [preprint]. Repository Name; Year [cited Year Mon Day]. Available from: URL. doi:10.xxxx\/xxxxx<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">MLA 9<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Author, First. \u201cTitle of the Preprint.\u201d Repository Name, Day Month Year, doi:10.xxxx\/xxxxx. Preprint.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">Chicago (author-date)<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">Author, First. Year. \u201cTitle of the Preprint.\u201d Preprint, Repository Name. https:\/\/doi.org\/xxxxx<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"207\">IEEE<\/td>\n<td width=\"417\">A. Author and B. Author, \u201cTitle of the preprint,\u201d arXiv:XXXX.XXXXX, Year.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rules_That_Apply_Across_All_Styles\"><\/span>Rules That Apply Across All Styles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Always include the DOI. Just the server URL is less stable and less useful.<\/li>\n<li>Always label the item as a preprint. Readers and reviewers need to know the work is unreviewed.<\/li>\n<li>Include the version number when the server uses one, because the content of v1 and v3 may differ materially.<\/li>\n<li>Give the posting date of the version you actually read, not the date you accessed it.<\/li>\n<li>Check the target journal&#8217;s instructions to authors. Some journals restrict preprint citations, require them in a separate list, or ask for them in the text rather than the reference list.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Citing_a_Preprint_That_Has_Since_Been_Published\"><\/span>Citing a Preprint That Has Since Been Published<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cite the published version. It is the version of record, it has been reviewed, and its content will not change. Preprints can be revised after you cite them, which makes the citation unstable.<\/p>\n<p>Cite both only when the versions differ in a way that matters to your argument, for example when the preprint contains an analysis that did not survive review. In that case, say explicitly why you are citing the earlier version.<\/p>\n<p>Search for a published version before finalizing any reference list. Crossref links most preprints to their published counterparts, and roughly 80% of life-science preprints eventually have one.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Withdraw_or_Correct_a_Preprint\"><\/span>How Do You Withdraw or Correct a Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You post a corrected version rather than editing the original, and full withdrawal leaves a permanent public notice in place of the content. Preprints are designed not to be erasable.<\/p>\n<p>This surprises authors, and it is the reason the decision to post deserves more thought than the 5 minutes the upload form takes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_Options_Compared\"><\/span>Your Options Compared<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Action<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>What happens<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>When to use it<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">New version<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">A new version is posted; earlier versions stay publicly visible and citable<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Revisions, added data, corrections after review, the accepted manuscript<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Withdrawal<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The content is replaced by a withdrawal notice; metadata and the DOI remain<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The findings are invalid, or the work should no longer be relied on<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Removal<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The record is taken down entirely; rare and at the server&#8217;s discretion<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Legal orders, privacy breaches, or serious ethical violations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Linking a retraction<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The preprint is linked to the retracted journal article<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">The published version has been retracted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Versioning_Works\"><\/span>How Versioning Works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Versions are numbered sequentially and all remain accessible. Readers can compare them.<\/li>\n<li>DOI behavior differs by server. Some mint a version-specific DOI; others keep 1 base DOI with version suffixes. Confirm which applies before you circulate a link.<\/li>\n<li>Cite the version you read, and say so.<\/li>\n<li>Post the accepted manuscript as a new version once the paper is accepted, if the journal permits it. This is a straightforward route to green open access.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_Your_Preprint_Turns_Out_to_Be_Wrong\"><\/span>If Your Preprint Turns Out to Be Wrong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Post a corrected version quickly, and state plainly in the version notes what changed and why.<\/li>\n<li>If the core finding does not survive, withdraw rather than quietly revise.<\/li>\n<li>Notify the journal if the manuscript is under review.<\/li>\n<li>Contact authors who have cited the preprint, particularly anyone conducting a systematic review.<\/li>\n<li>Do not delete social posts promoting it. Correct them, so the correction reaches the same audience.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Field-Specific_Norms_and_Expectations\"><\/span>Field-Specific Norms and Expectations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Preprint culture is not uniform. In some fields not posting is the unusual choice; in others posting still raises eyebrows. Know your field&#8217;s convention before treating general advice as applicable.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Physics_Mathematics_and_Computer_Science\"><\/span>Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>arXiv posting at or before journal submission is standard, and in some subfields universal.<\/li>\n<li>In machine learning, the arXiv version is frequently the version people read and cite, with the conference paper following.<\/li>\n<li>Since October 2025, arXiv computer science requires documentation of successful peer review for review articles and position papers.<\/li>\n<li>Not posting can itself be read as a signal, particularly for job candidates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Life_Sciences_and_Clinical_Research\"><\/span>Life Sciences and Clinical Research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>bioRxiv is the default for basic and translational biology.<\/li>\n<li>Clinical work belongs on medRxiv, which applies heavier screening and expects trial registration numbers for clinical trials.<\/li>\n<li>Content that could identify individual patients faces additional restrictions.<\/li>\n<li>Several major biomedical funders now expect or require preprint deposition.<\/li>\n<li>Clinical preprints carry real-world risk. Findings that could change patient care demand more caution before posting than any other category of research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Economics_Finance_and_Law\"><\/span>Economics, Finance, and Law<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Economics has a working-paper tradition older than preprint servers, through NBER, IZA, and RePEc.<\/li>\n<li>SSRN is the standard venue in finance and law, and in US legal scholarship posting is effectively expected.<\/li>\n<li>Working papers in economics are routinely cited and often carry more weight than the eventual journal version.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Psychology_Social_Sciences_and_Humanities\"><\/span>Psychology, Social Sciences, and Humanities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>PsyArXiv and SocArXiv are established, and preprinting is closely tied to the open-science reform movement in psychology.<\/li>\n<li>PsyArXiv moved to moderating submissions before posting rather than after, in response to low-quality submissions.<\/li>\n<li>Humanities adoption remains low, and monograph-oriented fields have no equivalent convention.<\/li>\n<li>In fields where the argument rather than the data is the contribution, concerns about premature circulation carry more weight and deserve a hearing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regional_and_Multilingual_Considerations\"><\/span>Regional and Multilingual Considerations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>SciELO Preprints, ChinaXiv, and AfricArXiv serve communities that the anglophone servers underserve.<\/li>\n<li>Most major servers are hosted in wealthy countries and dominated by English-language content, which is a real equity limitation of the current system.<\/li>\n<li>If you post in a language other than English, check whether the server supports multilingual metadata, since discoverability depends on it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preprints_in_the_Age_of_Generative_AI\"><\/span>Preprints in the Age of Generative AI<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The most significant recent change to preprint servers has nothing to do with peer review policy. It is the volume of low-quality, machine-generated submissions, which began rising sharply in early 2025.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Changed\"><\/span>What Changed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>arXiv moderators historically rejected roughly 4% of submissions. That figure has risen to an estimated 10-12%.<\/li>\n<li>On October 31, 2025, arXiv announced that its computer science category would require documentation of successful peer review for review articles and position papers, describing the influx as unmanageable.<\/li>\n<li>The generalist preprint service hosted by OSF stopped accepting new submissions in August 2025, citing the quality of incoming work.<\/li>\n<li>PsyArXiv switched from moderating after posting to moderating before posting.<\/li>\n<li>Moderators report that the overwhelming majority of machine-generated submissions come from first-time submitters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_This_Means_for_You\"><\/span>What This Means for You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Expect more friction as a first-time submitter, and more scrutiny of review-style manuscripts.<\/li>\n<li>Screening times may lengthen. Build that into your submission timeline.<\/li>\n<li>Disclose AI assistance according to the server&#8217;s policy. arXiv and other servers have explicit generative-AI disclosure rules.<\/li>\n<li>Genuine literature reviews now need a venue strategy. In arXiv computer science, that means securing peer review first.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preprints_as_AI_Training_Data\"><\/span>Preprints as AI Training Data<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Openly licensed preprints are among the most accessible sources of high-quality scientific text, and they are used to train and evaluate language models. Authors should understand this rather than be surprised by it.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CC BY and CC0 licenses explicitly permit text and data mining, including model training.<\/li>\n<li>Restrictive licenses do not reliably prevent scraping. They mainly deter compliant researchers conducting legitimate systematic reviews.<\/li>\n<li>Choosing a restrictive license to block model training generally costs you more in legitimate reach than it gains in protection.<\/li>\n<li>If this concerns you, talk to your department chair or senior leaders at your institution about the question, rather than relying on a license dropdown to settle it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Promote_a_Preprint\"><\/span>How Do You Promote a Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Share the DOI rather than the PDF, write a plain-language summary, and actively solicit review. A preprint that nobody reads delivers none of the benefits described above; distribution is your responsibility, not the server&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Always circulate the DOI link, not a file. The DOI carries version information and download statistics; a PDF carries neither.<\/li>\n<li>Write 3 or 4 sentences of plain-language summary and lead with those, not the abstract.<\/li>\n<li>Post a thread with 1 clear figure. Figures travel; abstracts do not.<\/li>\n<li>Email the preprint to authors you cite heavily. This is the highest-yield and most underused promotional step available.<\/li>\n<li>Add it to your ORCID record, Google Scholar profile, institutional page, and, if applicable, your NIH bibliography.<\/li>\n<li>Use a QR code on conference posters and slides. bioRxiv and medRxiv generate these for you.<\/li>\n<li>Request a review through PREreview or an appropriate PCI community.<\/li>\n<li>Watch the server&#8217;s download statistics and the Altmetric score to see which channels actually worked.<\/li>\n<li>Post a new version when the paper is accepted, and announce that too. The second announcement usually outperforms the first.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limitations_and_Risks_You_Should_Understand\"><\/span>Limitations and Risks You Should Understand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Preprints carry genuine costs alongside their benefits. An honest account of them is more useful than advocacy, and it is what reviewers and coauthors will expect from you.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preprints_Are_Not_Peer_Reviewed\"><\/span>Preprints Are Not Peer Reviewed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Screening confirms that a submission is plausibly legitimate research. It does not assess whether the statistics are sound, the controls are adequate, or the conclusions follow. That distinction is absolute and servers state it plainly. A preprint is not necessarily lower in quality than a peer-reviewed paper but it <em>might <\/em>be.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Media_Misinterpretation_Is_a_Real_Risk\"><\/span>Media Misinterpretation Is a Real Risk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The COVID-19 pandemic made this concrete. Preliminary preprint findings were reported as settled science, and some were later shown to be wrong. Servers responded by adding prominent disclaimers to every preprint page.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your findings are clinically actionable, weigh the risk of misreporting seriously.<\/li>\n<li>Consider a plain-language summary that states the limitations explicitly, so journalists have the caveats in front of them.<\/li>\n<li>Respond quickly to public misreadings. Silence is read as endorsement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Journal_Policies_Still_Vary\"><\/span>Journal Policies Still Vary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The large majority of journals accept manuscripts previously posted as preprints. A small number still apply the Ingelfinger rule and treat prior posting as prior publication. Verify before you post, not after.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/openpolicyfinder.jisc.ac.uk\/\">Open Policy Finder<\/a> tool lets you look up preprint and self-archiving policies by journal and by funder. Disclose the preprint in your cover letter when you submit; this prevents plagiarism-detection software from raising false flags and helps indexing systems link the 2 versions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Confidentiality_Sensitive_Data_and_Consent\"><\/span>Confidentiality, Sensitive Data, and Consent<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Patentable material should be handled before posting, as covered above.<\/li>\n<li>Data governed by sponsorship agreements, MTAs, or NDAs may not be shareable at all.<\/li>\n<li>Human-subjects work requires the same consent and privacy standards as journal publication, and medRxiv screens for identifiability.<\/li>\n<li>Dual-use research of concern requires institutional review before any public release.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_One_Genuine_Scooping_Risk\"><\/span>The One Genuine Scooping Risk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Posting a preprint does not expose you to scooping. It protects you, because the timestamp is public. The real risk sits earlier: circulating a full manuscript by email while seeking an arXiv endorsement, before any timestamp exists.<\/p>\n<p>Send the endorsement link and a short description. Do not send the paper.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preprints_in_the_Broader_Scholarly_Landscape\"><\/span>Preprints in the Broader Scholarly Landscape<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Preprints are increasingly treated as part of the scholarly record rather than as a workaround. Indexing services, funders, and evaluation systems have moved considerably in the past 5 years.<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\"><strong>Development<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>What it does<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"229\"><strong>Why it matters to authors<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Preprint Citation Index, Web of Science<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Indexes preprints alongside peer-reviewed literature; launched 2023<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Preprints can appear on author profiles and accumulate visible citations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">NIH Preprint Pilot in PubMed Central<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Makes preprints from NIH-funded research discoverable in PMC<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Substantially wider discovery for biomedical work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Europe PMC preprint indexing<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Indexes life-science preprints and links them to published versions<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Improves discoverability in the searches clinicians and researchers actually run<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">NIH interim research products policy<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Permits preprints to be cited in grant applications and progress reports<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Recent work can support a funding application before it clears review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Funder preprint mandates<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Several major philanthropic and public funders now expect or require preprint deposition<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Compliance may depend on posting, and on the license you select<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"167\">Crossref preprint linking<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Links preprints to their version of record<\/td>\n<td width=\"229\">Attention accrued before publication follows through to the article<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With regard to hiring and promotion decisions, preprints are widely accepted as evidence of productivity but are rarely accepted as equivalent to peer-reviewed publications.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Post_a_Preprint\"><\/span>Should You Post a Preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For most researchers the answer is yes, with 3 exceptions that need resolving first: unfiled patents, restrictive sponsor agreements, and coauthors who have not agreed. Work through the list below before you upload.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Does my target journal permit preprints? Verify with Open Policy Finder rather than assuming.<\/li>\n<li>Does my funder require a preprint, and does it require a specific license?<\/li>\n<li>Is anything here patentable? If so, has my technology transfer office signed off?<\/li>\n<li>Do sponsorship agreements, MTAs, or NDAs impose a review period before public disclosure?<\/li>\n<li>Have all coauthors agreed, in writing, to posting and to the license?<\/li>\n<li>Is the manuscript in a form I am willing to defend publicly, today?<\/li>\n<li>Have I chosen the license deliberately rather than accepting the default?<\/li>\n<li>Have I selected the right server for my field, my funder, and my content&#8217;s risk level?<\/li>\n<li>Are my ethics approvals, trial registration, competing interests, and data availability statements complete?<\/li>\n<li>Do I have a plan for distributing it and for soliciting review once it is live?<\/li>\n<li>If the findings turn out to be wrong, am I prepared to post a correction or withdraw publicly?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Preprints have moved from a physics curiosity to core scholarly infrastructure in roughly 3 decades. They close a 250-day gap between finishing research and sharing it, at no cost, with a citable and permanent record attached.<\/p>\n<p>The format&#8217;s remaining weaknesses are real: no validation gate, uneven field norms, and a growing volume of machine-generated noise that servers are actively fighting. None of these is a reason for a careful researcher to avoid preprinting.<\/p>\n<p>What separates a preprint that helps a career from one that creates problems is the handful of decisions made at the point of posting: server, license, patent position, coauthor consent, and a plan for distribution and review. Get those right and the rest follows.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_preprint_considered_a_publication\"><\/span>Is a preprint considered a publication?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, not in the formal sense. A preprint is a citable research output with a DOI, but it is not a peer-reviewed publication and should not be listed as one on a CV.<\/p>\n<p>List preprints in a separate section labeled preprints or interim research products. Funders including the NIH accept them in grant applications, and the Preprint Citation Index makes them visible on author profiles, but conflating them with peer-reviewed papers on a CV is a credibility risk you do not need to take.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_submit_a_preprint_to_a_journal_after_posting_it\"><\/span>Can I submit a preprint to a journal after posting it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, for the large majority of journals. Major publishers including Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, and PLOS permit submission of manuscripts previously posted as preprints, and some actively encourage it.<\/p>\n<p>A small number of journals still apply the Ingelfinger rule and treat prior posting as prior publication. Check the specific journal using Open Policy Finder before posting, and disclose the preprint in your cover letter at submission.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_for_a_preprint_to_be_published_in_a_journal\"><\/span>How long does it take for a preprint to be published in a journal?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>About 250 days on average for life-science preprints, and roughly 80% are eventually published in a peer-reviewed journal. That 250-day window is exactly what a preprint makes visible in the meantime.<\/p>\n<p>The figure varies by field and by how many revision rounds the manuscript goes through. Papers that go through multiple journals after rejection take considerably longer, which strengthens rather than weakens the case for posting.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_preprints_count_for_tenure_promotion_or_grant_applications\"><\/span>Do preprints count for tenure, promotion, or grant applications?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For grants, increasingly yes. The NIH permits preprints as interim research products in applications and progress reports, and other funders have similar provisions. For tenure and promotion, they usually count as evidence of productivity rather than as publications.<\/p>\n<p>Practice varies sharply by institution and discipline. Ask a senior colleague on your committee how preprints are actually treated in your department, rather than relying on the written policy, which is often silent.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_get_scooped_by_posting_a_preprint\"><\/span>Can you get scooped by posting a preprint?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The risk is far lower than it feels, and posting is generally protective. A public timestamp is the strongest evidence of priority available to you, and scooping a preprint without citing it would be a clear ethics violation.<\/p>\n<p>The genuine risk sits before posting: emailing a complete manuscript while seeking an arXiv endorsement, when no timestamp yet exists. Send the endorsement request link and a brief description of the work, never the full paper.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_preprints_indexed_in_PubMed_and_Google_Scholar\"><\/span>Are preprints indexed in PubMed and Google Scholar?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google Scholar indexes preprints from all major servers. PubMed Central includes preprints from NIH-funded research through its preprint pilot, and Europe PMC indexes life-science preprints broadly.<\/p>\n<p>Coverage is not universal. Preprints outside these programs may be discoverable only through Google Scholar, the server itself, or aggregators such as OSF search and Sciety. Check the indexing position of your chosen server before assuming reach.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_post_a_preprint_after_my_paper_has_been_rejected_by_a_journal\"><\/span>Can I post a preprint after my paper has been rejected by a journal?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Rejection has no bearing on your right to post, and there is a strong argument for posting at that point, since the manuscript now faces a further delay before it appears anywhere.<\/p>\n<p>Consider incorporating the reviewer comments first if they were substantive. Posting the improved version costs you nothing and means the public record reflects your best current work rather than the version that was rejected.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_acceptable_to_cite_a_preprint_in_a_systematic_review_or_meta-analysis\"><\/span>Is it acceptable to cite a preprint in a systematic review or meta-analysis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, and excluding preprints can introduce publication bias. Major evidence-synthesis guidance now treats preprints as includable, with the caveat that their unreviewed status must be reported transparently.<\/p>\n<p>Search for a published version of every included preprint before finalizing, since roughly 80% eventually have one and the versions may differ. Record the version number and posting date of what you actually screened, and flag the risk-of-bias implications in your methods.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_ResearchGate_a_preprint_server\"><\/span><strong>Is ResearchGate a preprint server?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">No. ResearchGate is a scholarly social network with a file upload feature, not a moderated preprint repository. It can assign a DOI to work you upload, but it performs no screening and offers no preservation guarantee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">The practical differences matter. Recognized servers such as arXiv, bioRxiv, and medRxiv screen submissions, commit to permanent archiving, and are indexed by services including Europe PMC and the Preprint Citation Index. ResearchGate content can be removed, and accounts can be deleted, taking the record with them. Several funder policies also specify deposition in a recognized repository, and commercial social networks generally do not qualify. Check your funder&#8217;s wording rather than assuming.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_upload_my_preprint_to_ResearchGate_as_well_as_a_preprint_server\"><\/span><strong>Can I upload my preprint to ResearchGate as well as a preprint server?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">Yes, and this is the recommended approach: post to a proper preprint server first, then share the link on ResearchGate for reach. Post the DOI rather than the file, so downloads and version history stay attached to the canonical record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">The risk on ResearchGate is not the preprint; it is what people upload afterward. Uploading the published version of record, or in many cases the accepted manuscript, can breach the copyright agreement you signed with the journal. Publishers have pursued large-scale takedowns over exactly this. Check the journal&#8217;s self-archiving terms in Open Policy Finder before uploading anything post-acceptance, and note that embargo periods often apply.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Elsevier_journals_allow_preprints\"><\/span><strong>Do Elsevier journals allow preprints?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">Yes. Elsevier&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elsevier.com\/about\/policies-and-standards\/sharing\/policy-faq\">sharing policy<\/a> lets authors share preprints anytime and anywhere, and the publisher actively encourages it. Posting to a preprint server does not count as prior publication.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">There are exceptions worth checking. Some society-owned titles and journals running double-anonymized peer review operate different preprint policies, and Elsevier specifically advises authors targeting Cell Press, The Lancet, and certain society titles to check the journal&#8217;s own author pages first. The publisher-level yes does not override a journal-level restriction, so read the Guide for Authors rather than assuming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">Elsevier also runs its own route: close to 1,000 journals let you opt in during submission to post the manuscript free on SSRN, and the decision to post has no effect on the editorial process or outcome. You are not obliged to use it. Posting to arXiv, bioRxiv, or another server is equally acceptable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">Two constraints apply after acceptance. Preprints must not be enhanced to resemble or substitute for the final published article, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elsevier.com\/about\/policies-and-standards\/sharing\">updating an arXiv or RePEc preprint with the accepted manuscript requires switching the license to CC BY-NC-ND.<\/a> Note the licensing implication: if you posted under CC BY, that update changes your terms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">For non-open-access Elsevier journals, the preprint is the only version you may share publicly on ResearchGate.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sources_and_Further_Reading\"><\/span>Sources and Further Reading<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/preprints-have-enormous-potential-to-revolutionize-peer-review-and-science\">Schneider, L. Preprints have enormous potential to revolutionize peer review and science. Editage Insights.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/open-access-week-2022-special-open-access-content-removes-barriers-and-encourages-equity-interview-with-natalia-reinic-babic-intechopen\">Reinic Babic, N. Open access content removes barriers and encourages equity. Editage Insights.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/openrxiv.org\/2025-year-in-review\/\"> 2025 year in review.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2821559\">Zissette, S., et al. Altmetric attention scores and citations of published research with or without preprints. JAMA Network Open, 2024.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/fullarticle\/2670247\">Serghiou, S., and Ioannidis, J. P. A. Altmetric scores, citations, and publication of studies posted as preprints. JAMA, 2018.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/asapbio.org\/preprint-servers\/\"> Preprint server directory and policy comparison.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/openpolicyfinder.jisc.ac.uk\/\"> Open Policy Finder, for journal and funder preprint policies.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/notice-files\/not-od-17-050.html\"> Reporting preprints and other interim research products (NOT-OD-17-050).<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/about\/nihpreprints\/\"> Preprint pilot in PubMed Central.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/academia-government\/scientific-and-academic-research\/research-discovery-and-referencing\/web-of-science\/preprint-citation-index\/\"> Preprint Citation Index, Web of Science.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/arxiv-preprint-server-clamps-down-ai-slop\"> arXiv preprint server clamps down on AI slop.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/openaccess.gatesfoundation.org\/open-access-policy\/\">Gates Foundation. Open access policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Takeaways: A preprint is a complete research paper posted publicly, with a DOI, before peer review; it is citable, permanent, and free to read, but it has not been formally validated. Preprints are now mainstream infrastructure: bioRxiv and medRxiv alone host more than 389,000 manuscripts, and roughly 80% of them go on to appear [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"Preprints are no longer a stage before peer review; they are increasingly a place where peer review happens, through platforms such as PREreview, Review Commons, Peer Community In, and the eLife reviewed preprint model. &nbsp;. Can I upload my preprint to ResearchGate as well as a preprint server?. Preprint Citation Index, Web of Science. arXiv preprint server clamps down on AI slop.","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"extractive","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"4f5a61ac9b7c4932cd282b472a31cb060ca8d58e"},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Preprint? The Complete 2026 Guide for Researchers - Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-preprint\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is a Preprint? 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