This page is part of MIT's Guidelines for Ethical Authorship and Publication Practices.
A preprint is a version of a scholarly manuscript that is shared publicly before it has gone through formal peer review and been published in a journal. Preprints are commonly posted on open platforms (such as arXiv, bioRxiv, or medRxiv) to share findings early, invite feedback, and increase the visibility of research.
Before uploading a manuscript as a preprint, it’s important to make sure you have the right to share it:
- If you are the sole author, you generally do not need permission to post a preprint, as long as the work has not already been assigned to a publisher.
- If the work has multiple authors, you should get agreement from all co-authors before posting the manuscript as a preprint, including all PIs or faculty supervisors.
- The author(s) are responsible for thoroughly reviewing the manuscript prior to posting it to ensure the integrity and accuracy of its content, including any and all reported data.
- If the manuscript is based on sponsored research, collaborative agreements, or includes confidential or proprietary information, additional approvals may be required. In these cases, check with your PI, faculty supervisor, or relevant MIT office before posting.
- If the work has already been accepted by or published in a journal, you must follow the publisher’s policy on preprints and manuscript sharing. Some publishers allow posting certain versions (such as the submitted or accepted manuscript), while others place limits.
- If the work includes third-party content (such as images, figures, or data created by others), be sure you have permission to share that material publicly or that its use is permitted under fair use or license terms.
Preprints should always be clearly labeled as not peer reviewed, and authors should be prepared for the content to evolve during peer review. If you’re unsure whether you can post a preprint—or which version is appropriate—MIT Libraries and your advisor are excellent resources to help you navigate journal policies, copyright considerations, and best practices.