Are e-prints and preprints the same thing?
Not necessarily. Generally, preprints are manuscripts intended for publication that have not yet been published but may have been reviewed and accepted for publication; or they may be in the process of being circulated for comment prior to publication. Preprints generated and circulated in electronic forms make up part of the genre of communication that has come to be known as “e-prints”. Many e-prints are electronic versions of research papers that have been submitted for dissemination and review among peers; for publication in journals; or prior to presentation at conferences. Some e-print servers may now define preprints as any electronic work circulated by the author outside of the traditional publishing environment, as the traditional definitions between preprints and e-prints continue to blur.
