Most journals clearly state their preprint policies on their official websites, typically in the "Instructions for Authors" or "Submission Guidelines" section, where you can find whether they allow preprints on servers like arXiv, bioRxiv, or institutional repositories.
Check the Journal's Website First
Start by navigating to the journal's homepage and looking for sections labeled "Author Guidelines," "Policies," or "Copyright and Permissions." Major publishers like Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley usually dedicate specific pages to preprint policies, explaining whether posting preprints is allowed before, during, or after peer review. Some journals explicitly welcome preprints, while others may have restrictions on timing or which servers are acceptable.
Use Publisher Policy Databases
If the journal's website isn't clear, consult centralized policy databases like Sherpa Romeo or Transpose. These free tools aggregate journal policies across thousands of publications, including preprint permissions, embargo periods, and licensing terms. Simply search by journal name or ISSN to get a quick summary. Transpose specifically focuses on preprint-friendly journals and provides detailed breakdowns of what's allowed at each submission stage.
Contact the Editorial Office Directly
When policies are ambiguous or outdated, email the journal's editorial office with your specific question. Mention the preprint server you plan to use (e.g., "May I post to SSRN before submission?") to get a definitive answer. Keep this correspondence as documentation in case questions arise later.
Review the Preprint Server's Guidelines
Preprint servers themselves often maintain lists of journals that accept submissions with existing preprints. For example, bioRxiv and medRxiv provide guidance on compatible journals in life sciences, while arXiv does the same for physics and mathematics. Cross-referencing these lists can save time and prevent accidental policy violations.
Why This Matters
Violating a journal's preprint policy can lead to desk rejection or complications during peer review, wasting months of effort. Always verify policies before posting to avoid conflicts with journal exclusivity clauses or copyright agreements. When searching for journals that align with your preprint strategy, WisPaper's Scholar Search can help you filter publications by policy attributes alongside citation impact and disciplinary fit, streamlining the journal selection process.
