In short: A preprint is a manuscript shared publicly before peer review — fast, open, but not yet validated. A peer-reviewed article has been independently evaluated and accepted by a journal. Many researchers use both: post a preprint for speed, then publish the validated version.
What is a preprint?
A preprint is a complete research manuscript that authors upload to a public preprint server before — or while — it undergoes journal peer review. It makes findings available immediately and openly.
What "peer-reviewed" means
A peer-reviewed article has been independently assessed by experts and accepted by a journal, which applies editorial and ethical standards and assigns a permanent DOI. That validation is what distinguishes it from a preprint.
Key differences
| Preprint | Peer-reviewed article | |
|---|---|---|
| Peer review | Not yet reviewed | Independently reviewed and accepted |
| Speed | Immediate | Takes weeks to months |
| Validation | None yet | Journal editorial and ethical standards applied |
| Status | May change during review | Version of record |
Pros and cons of preprints
Advantages: rapid, open sharing; early feedback from the community; and an early, citable, time-stamped record of your work. Limitations: no independent validation, so findings should be treated with caution and may change before final publication.
Using both
Many authors post a preprint for speed and then submit the same work to a journal for peer review and formal publication. Most journals permit this, but policies vary — check the journal's preprint policy before posting, and disclose the preprint when you submit. Once the peer-reviewed version is published, link the preprint to it.
Key takeaways
- A preprint is fast and open but not peer-reviewed; a peer-reviewed article is validated.
- You can usually post a preprint and still submit to a journal — check the policy.
- Cite preprints with care and prefer the peer-reviewed version once available.
- Preprints reflect the authors' work but may change during review.