Preprints ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** Preprint is a term used for academic articles that have not yet undergone peer review. Typ same version of text that is submitted to a journal for peer review.  ****************************************************************************************** * When to share preprints  ****************************************************************************************** Preprints are typically shared for two reasons:  1.to speed up the sharing of results with the scientific community  2.to ensure access to research findings  The peer-review process can take a very long time in some disciplines, and speeding up the of results can be important particularly when researching topical issues. You can therefor preprint at the same time as submitting the article to a journal for peer review, so that the scientific community as soon as possible.  Preprints can also be shared at a later stage, even after the article itself has been publ a preprint at a later stage is done primarily to ensure the availability of research resul a publisher may prohibit the publication of the final version of the manuscript in a repos is published as open access, or impose an unreasonably long embargo. In such cases, it is the research results available at least in the form of a preprint and add a link to the fi version of the article.  ****************************************************************************************** * How to share preprints  ****************************************************************************************** There are many subject specific platforms dedicated to sharing preprints. The most commonl • arXiv [ URL "https://arxiv.org/"]  – mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics • bioRxiv [ URL "https://www.biorxiv.org/"]  – biology   • medRxiv [ URL "https://www.medrxiv.org/"]  – medicine  • SocArXiv [ URL "https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv"]  – sociology  • PsyArXiv [ URL "https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv"]  – psychology   • ChemRxiv [ URL "https://chemrxiv.org/"]  – chemistry  Although the articles on preprint servers are not peer reviewed, many platforms perform a ensuring that uploaded articles are scientific and fit within the scope of the platform. Preprints can also be shared via multidisciplinary platforms like OSF Preprints [ URL "htt preprints/"] , where you can also find a list of subject- or language-specific preprint se with the OSF platform. Another multidisciplinary preprint platform is a server Preprints.o [ URL "https://www.preprints.org/"] , which is owned by a commercial publisher MDPI, so th concerns regarding its future development and sustainability.  Preprints can also be shared via generic repositories such as Zenodo [ URL "https://zenodo Charles University Research Publications Repository [ URL "https://openscience.cuni.cz/OSC   Regardless of where you share your preprints, it is always necessary to clearly state that version of the article that has not yet undergone peer-review.  ****************************************************************************************** * What to look out for  ****************************************************************************************** *========================================================================================= * Research funders’ requirements  *========================================================================================= Some research funders, such as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in its OP JAK c preprints as a means of early sharing of research results; therefore, when reporting prepr require that they be published before the final version of the article is released.  *========================================================================================= * Journal conditions  *========================================================================================= Some journals may have issues with preprints being shared at the same time as the article For example, if a journal operates a double-blind peer review, where reviewers and authors other’s identities, the journal may decide to reject a manuscript with a published preprin unable to ensure equal conditions in the peer review process. If you are unsure whether yo supports the sharing of preprints, check the journal’s website or send an enquiry to the e   *========================================================================================= * Preprint server conditions  *========================================================================================= Check that your chosen platform accepts preprints in the format you require; for example,  accepts preprints that have not yet been published in a journal (see the FAQ [ URL "https: www.medrxiv.org/about/FAQ"] ).    *========================================================================================= * Preprints and metrics  *========================================================================================= Some databases, like Google Scholar, include preprint citations to the total number of cit given output. Others, like the commercial Web of Science or Scopus, exclude preprint citat official metrics like the Journal Impact Factor. Web of Science, for example, introduced a for preprints called Preprint Citation Index.   Research assessment, however, has been gradually turning away from using solely bibliometr assessment and rather reflects the quality of results through commented nominations of sel or their societal relevance (including the Methodology for the Evaluation of Research Orga 2025+).  *========================================================================================= * Citing a preprint  *========================================================================================= If you are citing a preprint in your work, the citation should include information that th preprint. The citation may look, for example, like this:  • Surname, N. (Year). Title of the preprint [Preprint]. Preprint Server Name. DOI or URL.  If there is a version of the article after peer review and you have access to it, you shou the final, peer-reviewed article.  *========================================================================================= * Preprints and reliability  *========================================================================================= Discussions about preprints sometimes include doubts regarding the reliability of results preprints. A study published in July 2026 as a preprint looked at how much scientific clai in preprints on bioRxiv differ from those that are eventually published in journals. The s that primary claims remain unchanged (39.9 %) or minorly revised (50 %). The study, of cou at preprints that were eventually published but the authors add that roughly two thirds of published on bioRxiv are eventually published in peer-reviewed journals. Preprints, theref a reliable source of information, however, it is always necessary to keep in mind that the yet been reviewed.