A preprint is a complete manuscript shared publicly before peer review. Posting one lets other researchers read, use, and comment on your work months before a journal version appears, and it creates a public, dated record that the work is yours. For early-career researchers, that early visibility can lead to collaborations, invitations, and useful criticism while the paper is still easy to improve.
This guide explains the whole process in order: what a preprint is and is not, how to choose a server, how to check your target journal's policy, how to post the manuscript properly, and how to keep the record accurate after peer review. Follow it step by step and you will avoid the common mistakes that turn a helpful preprint into a problem at submission.
A preprint is a version of a research manuscript posted on a public preprint server before it has been peer reviewed. It usually carries a title, authors, abstract, and a date stamp, and readers can download and cite it. Posting a preprint is a form of public sharing, not a form of publication in a journal: the manuscript has not been reviewed, accepted, or edited by a journal, and that distinction should be clear wherever the preprint is mentioned.
Because a preprint is not peer reviewed, readers should treat its findings as preliminary. That does not make preprints unreliable by default; it means the claims have not yet passed independent expert scrutiny. Responsible authors say so plainly, avoid overstating results in the preprint's title and abstract, and update the record when a reviewed version becomes available.
The strongest reason to post a preprint is speed. Peer review takes time, and in fast-moving fields a delay of months can mean that other groups publish similar work first, or that practitioners wait unnecessarily for findings they could already use. A preprint puts the work into circulation immediately, while the journal process runs its course in parallel.
Preprints also invite early feedback. Colleagues may spot an error, suggest a missing reference, or point out a clearer analysis before the manuscript is locked into review. That feedback often strengthens the journal submission. A preprint can also help with visibility for job and funding applications, since a public record exists even before the journal decision arrives.
Choose a server that serves your field, because that is where your readers will look. Researchers in physics, mathematics, and computer science commonly use arXiv; life scientists use bioRxiv; health researchers use medRxiv; social scientists use SSRN and the Open Science Framework's preprint service. A server outside your field may still host the paper, but it will reach fewer of the right readers.
Before choosing, check the practical details: who can post, whether there is a screening check, what licences are offered, whether versions can be updated, and whether the server assigns a permanent identifier such as a DOI. Prefer a well-established server with a stable address and a clear preservation policy, so the link you share today still works years from now.
Most journals now accept manuscripts that have been posted as preprints, but policies differ, and a minority still treat prior public posting as a problem. Before you post, read the preprint policy of the journal you plan to submit to. If the policy is unclear, email the editorial office and ask directly; keep the reply with your submission records.
Pay attention to two details in particular. First, some journals ask you to declare the preprint on submission and to link the two records. Second, a few journals require that the preprint not be updated during review, or that it carry a note saying the paper is under consideration. Following these conditions from the start prevents an avoidable conflict later. Our guide on how to publish a research paper explains how journal policies fit into the wider submission process.
Post a complete, readable manuscript, not a draft full of placeholders. The preprint should have a clear title, a complete abstract, all authors listed, the full text with figures and tables, and complete references. Readers judge a preprint much as they judge a paper, and a sloppy preprint can harm the reputation of work that is actually strong.
Remove anything that should not be public yet. Check for unpublished data belonging to collaborators, confidential material, and personal information in file properties or tracked changes. Agree the author list and order with all co-authors before posting, and confirm that everyone is happy for this version to be public. Posting without a co-author's agreement is a serious mistake, however good the intentions.
The title and abstract do most of the work for a preprint, because many readers will discover it through search rather than through a journal's table of contents. Write a specific title that names the subject and, where relevant, the method or population. Write the abstract in the same structure as a journal abstract: background, question, method, main result, and conclusion, stated cautiously.
List authors exactly as they will appear on the journal submission, with affiliations and, where available, ORCID identifiers. If your institution or funder requires an acknowledgement or a funding statement, include it in the preprint as well. Consistent author information across the preprint and the journal version makes it easy for readers and editors to connect the two records.
Posting is usually straightforward. Create an account on the chosen server, start a new submission, and upload the manuscript file together with any figures. Enter the title, abstract, authors, keywords, and subject area carefully, because these details drive discovery. Choose the licence offered by the server deliberately rather than accepting a default without reading it.
Most servers run a brief screening check for completeness and basic appropriateness before the preprint goes live. Screening is not peer review: it checks that the submission is a genuine scholarly manuscript, not that its conclusions are correct. Once live, check the public page yourself: title, authors, abstract, file, and licence. Share the server's link, not a private file, so readers always reach the current version.
The licence you choose controls what others may do with the preprint. A permissive licence such as CC BY 4.0 allows sharing and reuse with credit to the authors, while a more restrictive choice may limit reuse. Read the server's licence options before posting, and check that your choice is compatible with your funder's requirements and with the journal you plan to submit to.
Posting a preprint does not normally transfer your copyright; you keep the rights to the work unless you later sign them away in a journal agreement. That is why the journal agreement deserves a careful read at acceptance: it may ask about the preprint, and it may set conditions for the version you can share afterwards. Keep copies of the licence you chose and the agreement you sign.
A preprint helps only if the right people see it. Share the server link with colleagues, on your profile pages, and in seminars, and say plainly that the work is a preprint awaiting peer review. When you share it, invite specific feedback: a question about the method, a check of a result, or a suggestion for literature you may have missed. Vague praise is pleasant, but specific criticism improves the paper.
Treat feedback professionally. Thank readers who take the time to comment, consider each point on its merits, and keep a note of changes you make in response. You do not have to accept every suggestion, but you should be able to explain, in the journal version, why the paper is stronger for the feedback it received. Never present a preprint's reception as peer review, and never quote download counts as evidence that findings are correct.
Preprint servers allow new versions, and you should use that feature. When the journal version is accepted, post an updated version or add a link to the published article, following the server's rules and the journal's agreement. Mark clearly which version is the preprint and which is the published article, so readers are never confused about what they are reading.
Version notes matter. A short note stating what changed between versions — for example, that the analysis was revised after review — helps readers understand the record. If a serious error is found in a preprint, correct it promptly with a new version and a clear note, rather than quietly replacing the file. An honest correction strengthens trust; a silent change undermines it.
The journal version is usually not identical to the preprint. Peer review typically brings changes to the framing, the methods description, the analysis, and the conclusions, and the journal's copyediting and formatting change the presentation. The preprint remains part of the record, and readers may compare the two, so the changes should be genuine improvements, not quiet corrections of errors you hope nobody noticed.
On submission, declare the preprint as the journal asks, usually with its link and identifier. After publication, make sure the preprint record points to the published article, and use the published version for citation from then on. Citing the journal article rather than the preprint helps readers reach the reviewed, final version, and it gives the published record the credit it deserves. If you plan to submit to the Global Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, check the journal's author guidance on preprints before you submit.
The table below summarises well-known preprint servers. Check each server's current terms before posting, since policies change.
| Server | Main fields | Cost to post | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| arXiv | Physics, mathematics, computer science, and related fields | Free | Subject area fit and endorsement rules |
| bioRxiv | Life sciences | Free | Whether your target journal accepts bioRxiv preprints |
| medRxiv | Health sciences | Free | Rules on clinical findings and author declarations |
| SSRN | Social sciences, humanities, and related fields | Free | Subject network and licence options |
| Research Square | Many research fields | Free | Optional review services and their costs |
| OSF Preprints | Many research fields | Free | Community server choice and version control |
The most common mistakes are avoidable: posting without every co-author's agreement; posting before checking the target journal's preprint policy; choosing a licence without reading it; and sharing a preprint as though it were a peer-reviewed publication. Each of these creates work later that a few minutes of checking would have prevented.
Other mistakes concern the record itself: posting an incomplete draft, leaving an outdated preprint online after the journal article appears without linking the two, and quietly replacing a file after an error is found. Treat the preprint as a public scholarly record from the first day, keep versions and notes honest, and the preprint will work for you rather than against you.
Use this checklist before you post, and again when the journal version appears:
These authoritative external resources explain the standards and tools mentioned in this guide:
Does posting a preprint count as prior publication?
Usually not, but the answer depends on the journal. Most journals now state that posting a preprint does not count as prior publication, while a minority apply different rules. Always check the target journal's preprint policy before posting, and ask the editor if the policy is unclear.
Can I post a preprint after submitting to a journal?
It depends on the journal's policy. Some journals allow posting at any time before publication, while others prefer the preprint to be posted before submission or ask you to inform them. Check the policy first, and declare the preprint to the editor either way.
Will a preprint hurt my chances of acceptance?
A preprint alone does not normally hurt a submission at a journal that accepts preprints. What can hurt is posting a version that contradicts the submitted manuscript, or failing to declare the preprint when the journal asks for it. Keep the two records consistent and declared.
Can other researchers cite my preprint?
Yes. Preprints carry a stable identifier and can be cited, and readers should cite the published journal article once it appears. If you cite someone else's preprint, say that it is a preprint, so readers know it has not yet been peer reviewed.
Can I update or withdraw a preprint?
Most servers allow new versions with a note explaining what changed. Full withdrawal is usually harder, because the record is meant to be permanent; servers generally prefer a withdrawal notice that explains why, rather than silent removal. Check the server's policy before posting.
Does the Global Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences accept manuscripts posted as preprints?
Check the journal's current author guidance on its journal page before you submit, and ask the editorial office if the position is unclear. Do not assume a policy from another journal applies, and always declare the preprint on submission when the journal asks for it.