Library Help: Office For Open Research

What is a preprint?

A preprint is a complete manuscript that has been made public but has not yet been published in a traditional scholarly journal. Preprints have typically not yet been peer reviewed and could be a commentary or summary of negative results as well as a more traditional journal article. Sharing a preprint can help researchers quickly disseminate their findings and gather feedback across the research community through open peer review – see F1000Research for an example of this method. Once uploaded, a preprint is publicly available and can be cited using a Digital Object Identifier (DOI).

Preprints have become standard practice in fields such as physics, mathematics and computer science, while also gaining traction in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Where are preprints shared?

Preprints are commonly shared in publicly accessible repositories called preprint servers. Preprint servers are usually discipline-specific, but there are also more generic server options. The following are some of the most popular preprint servers:

Generic preprint servers

• Zenodo

• Figshare

Discipline-specific preprint servers

• arXiv – Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science

• bioRxiv – Biology

• ChemRxiv – Chemistry

• CrimRxiv - Criminology

• CORE – Humanities

• PsyRxiv – Psychological Sciences

• RePeC – Economics

• SocArXiv or SSRN – Social Sciences

Another option for sharing a preprint is using the University of Manchester’s Current Research Information System, Pure. Once uploaded to Pure, a preprint will appear on the author’s Research Explorer and can be connected to other research outputs like the version of record. The version of record is the final, definitive version of a research output which has undergone peer review, copyediting, formatting, and final approval by the publisher.

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Benefits of sharing preprints

• Faster publication: Preprints allow research findings to be disseminated early and quickly, bypassing often lengthy editorial processes.

• Maximising feedback: Preprints offer the opportunity for research to be widely shared and discussed, helping encourage open feedback and evaluation on research findings across the research community.

• Priority of work: Preprints can be used to announce a new discovery, helping researchers establish priority of their work and ownership over new research insights and developments.

• Engaging stakeholders: Preprints allow researchers to share both works in progress and recent accomplishments with colleagues, funders, promotion committees and future employers.

• Open Access: Preprints are a form of Green Open Access, encouraging freely accessible and transparent research practices.

How to submit a preprint

1. Check potential journal policies: Many, but not all, scholarly journals support preprints. If you plan on eventually submitting your preprint to a journal, check the journal’s policies to see if they accept submission papers which have previously been shared as preprints. Sherpa Romeo is a useful online resource which provides information on publisher open access and preprint policies. If you are still unsure on a journal’s preprint policy, please contact the Office for Open Research: uml.openaccess@manchester.ac.uk

2. Choose a suitable preprint server: Consider which preprint server is most suitable for your preprint given your research area and discipline.

3. Seek permission from all co-authors: Make sure to get co-author consent before submitting your preprint, including the choice of server and licence.

4. Prepare your preprint for submission: When preparing your preprint, you can use Overleaf for formatting your manuscript. Overleaf is an online collaborative writing and publishing tool that enables authors to create professional-looking documents using LaTeX. Some preprint servers, such as arXiv , specifically require preprints to be uploaded in the LaTeX file format. Overleaf Professional accounts are freely available to all current University of Manchester staff, postgraduate researchers, and active members of the research community. Make sure to also write an abstract for your preprint and choose a copyright licence.

5. Submit your preprint: Follow the preprint upload instructions for your chosen server. You can usually update your preprint and submit a new version at any time, and servers usually offer version control to enable review of manuscript developments over time. If your manuscript goes on to be formally published by a journal, don't forget to go back and link your preprint to the final version of your paper.

Common concerns around preprints

There are several concerns that researchers may have around preprints, including future publishing, research quality, and research findings being ‘scooped’. While these are understandable concerns, it is important to recognise that preprints are widely accepted as credible sources of information and are strongly promoted in the Open Research movement. Three main concerns around preprints are addressed below:

• Impact on future publishing: Submitting a preprint does not mean you cannot go on to publish your research in a journal. Most journals do accept articles that have already been shared as preprints. Check the preprint policies of potential future journals ahead of submitting your preprint to minimise any potential conflicts.

• Research quality in preprints: The traditional peer review process used by scholarly journals is the gold standard for assessing research accuracy and quality. As preprints do not go through the traditional peer review process, they cannot offer the same reassurance in terms of research quality. However, preprints do offer the opportunity for feedback and critique through open peer review among the wider research community. As long as preprints are clearly labelled as non-peer-reviewed, the onus is on readers to critically engage with and evaluate the research themselves.

• Research findings being ‘scooped’: Posting a preprint creates a publicly time-stamped document, helping establish the precedence and priority of your work. This makes it more difficult for others to ‘scoop’ your research findings or ideas before you have a chance to formally publish.