In recent years, preprints research manuscripts shared publicly before peer review have played an increasingly important role in accelerating scientific communication. Preprint servers such as bioRxiv, medRxiv, Research Square, arXiv and others enable rapid dissemination of new findings, making cutting-edge research available to the community long before formal publication. However, citing a preprint requires care: readers should know exactly what version of the work you used.
Why It Matters
When you cite a preprint, you give credit to the authors, provide transparency about the evidence used, and permit others to locate the same version you consulted. As per guidelines from the scholarly publishing community, preprints should be cited clearly, with the note "[Preprint]", the DOI (if available), and other bibliographic details.
Because a preprint has not yet undergone peer review, citations should not treat its findings as definitive proof especially in sensitive areas like clinical research or policy-making. Rather, they document the state of knowledge at a given point in time.
Why Cite Preprints?
Citing preprints is important for several reasons:
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Visibility and credit: It acknowledges the original authors’ work even before formal publication.
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Transparency: It shows the exact version of the research you consulted.
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Timeliness: In rapidly evolving fields like COVID-19 research, preprints allowed immediate access to crucial findings that traditional peer review would delay.
However, researchers must exercise caution. Since preprints are not peer-reviewed, they should not be treated as definitive evidence especially in clinical or policy-making contexts.
How to Cite a Preprint
APA (7th Edition) Example
Format:
Author(s). (Year). Title of the preprint [Preprint]. Preprint Server. DOI
Example:
Alayidh, F. S., Woodman, A., Zakary, N. Y., Al-Ansari, R. Y., Chaudhry, S., Alsaadi, A. O., Alharbi, K. A., Alamri, B. A., Alhomud, S. M., Albather, S. H., Bataweel, S. A., Madkhali, N. A., Alzahrani, S. J., & Ehtesham, Z. (2025). Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy in HCV Patients: A Retrospective Study of the Pre- and Post-Treatment Impact in Saudi Arabia [Preprint]. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7285246/v1.
Vancouver Style
Format:
Author(s). Title. Preprint Server [Preprint]. Year. DOI.
Example:
Alayidh FS, Woodman A, Zakary NY, Al-Ansari RY, Chaudhry S, Alsaadi AO, Alharbi KA, Alamri BA, Alhomud SM, Albather SH, Bataweel SA, Madkhali NA, Alzahrani SJ, Ehtesham Z. Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy in HCV Patients: A Retrospective Study of the Pre- and Post-Treatment Impact in Saudi Arabia. Research Square [Preprint]. 2025. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7285246/v1.
Best Practices When Using Preprints
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Check for a peer-reviewed version.
If the paper is later published in a journal, always cite the final version instead of the preprint. -
Confirm credibility.
Evaluate methodology and data quality carefully. Preprints may contain errors. -
Acknowledge the preprint status.
Always include the word “Preprint” in your citation so readers understand the work is not peer-reviewed. -
Use DOIs whenever available.
Most reputable preprint servers assign DOIs, which ensure long-term accessibility.
Conclusion
Preprints are reshaping modern science by promoting transparency, accessibility, and faster knowledge sharing. Knowing how to cite a preprint correctly ensures you respect academic standards while contributing to an open and collaborative scientific culture. As long as researchers acknowledge the limitations of non-peer-reviewed work and cite responsibly, preprints will continue to be a valuable resource for scientific progress.