A preprint is:

 A preprint is a scholarly manuscript posted by the author(s) in an openly accessible platform, usually before or in parallel with the peer review process. Source: COPE.

 A scientific manuscript that is uploaded by the authors to a public server. The preprint contains data and methods, but has not yet been accepted by a journal. Source: ASAPBio.

A complete written description of a body of scientific work that has yet to be published in a journal. Typically, a preprint is a research article, editorial, review, etc. that is ready to be submitted to a journal for peer review or is under review. It could also be a commentary, a report of negative results, a large data set and its description, and more. Source: Bourne PE, Polka JK, Vale RD, Kiley R. Ten simple rules to consider regarding preprint submission. PLoS Comput Biol. 2017 May 4;13(5):e1005473. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005473.

A version of a scholarly or scientific paper that precedes formal peer review and publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly or scientific journal. The preprint may be available, often as a non-typeset version available free, before and/or after a paper is published in a journal. Source: Wikipedia.

Interested in COVID-19 preprints? See: COVID-19 Resources: Preprints.

Dr. Joseph Ross, MD, MHS, presented a talk as part of Open October 2020: Preprints in Medicine: More Promise or Pitfall for Research Transparency? (59.07)

Note: Access is limited to the Washington University campus.

This guide contains information about preprints and will be updated to include new developments and policies.

Questions? Cathy Sarli or Amy Suiter