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What is the difference between a "preprint," a "postprint," and the "version of record"?

I see these terms when depositing in repositories. My publisher's policy says I can share the "postprint." What exactly am I allowed to share, and how is it different from the preprint I put on arXiv?

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By Jeremy Answered 7 months ago

Understanding these versions is key for complying with publisher policies. The Preprint is your submitted draft—shared on servers like arXiv before any journal review. The Postprint (or Author's Accepted Manuscript) is the version after peer review, with all changes incorporated, but without the publisher's final typesetting, logos, or pagination. The Version of Record is the official, final PDF as published on the journal's website. When a publisher says you can share the "postprint," they mean you can self-archive that accepted manuscript in your institutional repository or on your website, often after an embargo period (e.g., 12 months). You typically cannot share the slick, final Version of Record PDF. Always check the specific journal's policy on SHERPA/RoMEO.

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