Pre-prints vs Pre-proof/Pre-press
Sharing of manuscripts using open access pre-print platforms has increased significantly in 2020 with researchers wishing to disseminate their research rapidly during the COVID- 19 pandemic. While sharing manuscripts in this way has been common in some disciplines such as mathematics and physics for many years, the use by others such as biomedical sciences has been low, until recently. A preprint is a version of a scholarly manuscript that precedes formal peer review and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. It is usually not typeset. The peer review process may lead to rejection of the manuscript or significant modification to the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data in the final accepted publication. Readers and the media need to be aware that data in preprints may not be credible and the conclusions unreliable.
Pre-proof and pre-press articles are uncorrected proofs published shortly after a manuscript has been accepted by a journal after peer review. While they are fully citable using a DOI number, these uncorrected proofs will be replaced with the final version that include typesetting, copy-editing and author corrections. Thus, the text could still change before final publication.
Individual publishers and journals may have different policies about preprints. There may be conflicts with license or copyright transfer agreements. In addition, connection of preprints with publishing workflows and the final publication varies.
Further information
Chatfield K, Schroeder D. Ethical research in the COVID-19 era demands care, solidarity and trustworthiness. Research Ethics. First Published July 28 2020 https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120945046
Committee on Publication Ethics. Preprints March 2018 https://publicationethics.org/resources/discussion-documents/preprints
European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO) COVID-19 the importance of research ethics and research integrity standards during the pandemic. 2020
ENRIO Statement: Research integrity even more important for research during a pandemic
Giving credit where credit is due: how to cite preprints
Giving credit where credit is due: how to cite preprints – ASAPbio
Flanagin A, Fontanarosa PB, Bauchner H. Preprints Involving Medical Research—Do the Benefits Outweigh the Challenges? JAMA. 2020;324(18):1840–1843. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.20674
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772743
Last update January 2024
Please note that this list of resources is not intended to be exhaustive and should not be seen as a substitute for advice from suitably qualified persons. UKRIO is not responsible for the content of external websites linked to from this page. If you would like to seek advice from UKRIO, information on our role and remit and on how to contact us is available here.
UKRIO would like to thank Professor Margaret Rees for writing this resource.