# Preprints #### **What is a preprint?** In general, a preprint is an author's own original or draft version of their paper before any peer review has taken place and before they publish it - sometimes in a peer-reviewed journal. Adding your preprints gives you a great opportunity to start gaining visibility for your work early on and lets you get valuable feedback from your peers. Many preprints are available, usually in the form of a .doc file with minimal formatting, before the published version is available. The published version is usually the final, formatted work that you find on a publisher's website. This is the version that most library databases link to. #### **What types of research usually have preprint versions?** Articles and book chapters are the most common types, but authors sometimes also **add** preprints of conference papers and posters before they publish them in conference proceedings. #### **Why should I consider adding my preprints to ResearchGate?** Adding preprints is a great way to get your work out early. Here's why you should consider adding them: * Your peers will have early access to your work and can give you **feedback** **before you publish** * You **start building an audience for your work** as soon as you finish it (instead of waiting months or even years for it to be published) * You can get a **free** **Digital Object Identifier (DOI)** for your preprint that shows exactly when your work first appeared – this will make sure you get the credit you deserve, and make it easy for others to find and cite your work * You can **link your preprint to the final version's page**, giving you an audience for your final work * You can **connect with other researchers** working in the same area You can also visit [our blog](https://www.researchgate.net/blog/post/three-reasons-to-share-your-preprints) to see why you should consider sharing your preprints with other researchers. #### **Am I allowed to share my preprints on ResearchGate?** Some publishers let authors share copies of their preprints without restrictions, while others allow it, but with limitations. Because publishers and journals differ on what they allow, you should always check your licensing agreement or publisher conditions before you share any of your work. Also, if you’re planning to publish in a journal, check the publisher’s policies to confirm they’ll accept your draft after it’s already been made publicly available. Check out our [**Copyright**](https://help.researchgate.net/copyright/copyright-and-researchgate) section for more information on how and where you can share your work. **Please note:** Publishers that allow sharing of preprints usually require that they aren't formatted to make them appear like the final version of your work. #### **How can reading preprints help me with my work?** A preprint is the author's earliest version of their publication, giving you access to brand new research. In most cases, preprints are added to ResearchGate within days of the author finishing their paper. Here's why you should read preprints: * **Keep up with brand new research** and decide on the future direction of your own work * **Give feedback on early work** before it's published (and identify yourself as an expert) * You can **connect with your readers** - the people most likely to work in the same area as you. #### **How do I add a preprint to my profile?** 1. Go to your [**Profile**](https://www.researchgate.net/go.Profile.html?pli=1) 2. Click **Add new** in the top right-hand corner of the page 3. Select **Preprint** 4. Add details about your preprint and choose whether to add a public or private file 5. Once you're done, your preprint is available from your profile. **Note:** You must always make sure you have the right to upload any content to ResearchGate before doing so. For more information see our [**Copyright** ](https://help.researchgate.net/copyright)section. #### **How do I link my preprint to the publication page for the final version?** As soon as you publish your work, you can link your preprint to the final work's publication page. Here's how: 1. Go to the **Research** tab on your profile 2. On the left, select **Preprints** and locate your publication 3. Click **Add published version** under the preprint title 4. Select the published work you want to link to if it's already on ResearchGate, or create a new publication if it's not 5. Click **Add published version** 6. Your published work's page is now linked and accessible directly from your preprint. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.researchgate.net/research-and-publications/preprints.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.