READY TO POST YOUR PREPRINT?
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Preprints
A preprint is a version of a scientific manuscript posted on a public server prior to formal peer review. As soon as it’s posted, your preprint becomes a permanent part of the scientific record, citable with its own unique DOI. By sharing early, you can accelerate the speed at which science moves forward.
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READY. SET. SHARE.
Choose how and when your work is shared. It takes less than 7 days from submission for your preprint to be publicly available so you can stake a claim and start earning citations for your work earlier.
3 WAYS TO GET STARTED
Direct transfer from bioRxiv and medRxiv
Authors of existing bioRxiv and medRxiv preprints can choose to submit their manuscript for consideration at relevant PLOS journal through the Direct Transfer program.
Post on bioRxiv when submitting to PLOS
During initial submission, authors life science manuscripts can opt-in to have their manuscript posted as a preprint on bioRxiv.
Post directly to the most relevant preprint server
Authors submitting manuscripts in the physical sciences and science and medicine are encouraged to post to a relevant preprint server and share the DOI with us.
Benefits of Preprints
We see preprints as an important step toward a more open and transparent peer review process — one with tremendous benefits for both individual authors and the broader scientific community.
Rapid Dissemination of Your Results
Preprints allow you to share your results when you’re ready — whether you’re researching an emergent disaster, applying for a grant, or just excited to broadcast your work to a wider audience.
Establishing Priority
It’s common for researchers to achieve a similar advance at around the same time but the publication process can artificially delay one paper or favor another. Posting preprints allows researchers to publicly date stamp their discoveries.
Increased Attention (and Citations!)
The sooner research becomes available, the sooner it can begin to receive views and citations. In this case, common sense is backed up by evidence. Research shows that public posting increases the number of times papers are viewed and cited.
Career Advancement
Preprints enable you to showcase your latest work for grant, hiring, or tenure committees. A link to a publicly posted preprint is more illustrative and compelling than a title on a CV with the annotation “in development” or “under review.”
Community
Preliminary feedback helps authors improve manuscripts. Collegial discussion can lead to new ideas, follow-up studies, or collaborations with other research groups. Plus, you can cite your preprint in your letters of inquiry.
Unlimited and Timely Updates
From the moment a preprint appears online to the day that the article is published in a peer reviewed journal, you can make as many updates as you want or need. Each version is numbered and incorporated into the preprint record.
Expand your preprint knowledge
How open is your preprint? The license you choose has a big impact on how your work will be shared and reused.
Innovation through Collaboration
Public Library of Science (PLOS) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have partnered to enable the automatic posting of research articles submitted to PLOS journals on bioRxiv, CSHL’s preprint server for the life sciences. This collaboration empowers authors to share their work on a trusted platform before peer review, accelerating the pace of scientific research.
For more information about the launch, visit the Official PLOS Blog.