Preprints: What is a Preprint?

A preprint is version of a research manuscript that is disseminated prior to the peer review process. Preprints are frequently posted in an electronic format and often made available to the public on a preprint server such as bioRxiv or medRxiv. Most preprints are assigned a digital object identifier (DOI) so that it is possible to cite them in other research papers. Preprints are often associated with a push towards Open Access (OA) as well as efforts to expedite the dissemination of scientific content.  While preprints have been around for several decades, the Covid-19 global pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in the number of publications archived in preprint servers. A 2020 Nature article entitled "Will the pandemic permanently alter scientific publishing" explores the potential impacts of preprints on the scholarly publications life cycle. 

Pros of archiving preprints include:

• fast dissemination/discussion of research results
• feedback from the research community prior to submission to a scientific journal
• earlier documentation of the originality of research based on DOI
• exposure of research to a potentially larger group
• availability of articles that might otherwise not be published
• availability to researchers without library access

Cons of archiving preprints include: 

• dissemination of inaccurate information
• misuse of preprints by media and news outlets
• contribution to "information overload"
• refusal of some publishers to publish items that have been archived as preprints