Preprints

A preprint is a scientific manuscript that is posted by an author in the open access before the article is published in a peer-reviewed journal. Preprints are posted to disseminate information, claim ownership of an idea, and get feedback before submitting the article to a journal.

Advantages of preprints: quicker accessibility than traditional publication, opportunity to get feedback, documenting the history of ideas, providing timely access to research data, and publicity. Preprint comments are often used by authors to refine articles.

Preprints can present preliminary data, results of failed experiments etc., which increases the transparency of the research. The high speed of publication and the possibility of making public intermediate or negative results do not imply full-fledged peer review, so it is recommended to post preprints only on specialised platforms that guarantee moderation, provide the possibility of correct citation, assign DOIs, and unambiguously indicate that preprints have not been peer-reviewed.

Preparing a preprint for posting:

1.  Obtain permission from all co-authors to post the preprint.

2.  Select a preprint archive (repository) based on the research topic and target audience.

3.  Prepare the preprint file according to the requirements of the chosen platform. Ensure that the text does not contain information that should not be freely distributed.

4   Determine the order of authorship, check the correct spelling and transliteration of names.

5.  Remember that new versions of the preprint may be submitted based on feedback and/or new data, but previous versions are also retained.