Early Online Publication
nounPronunciation: /ˈɜrli ˈɑnlaɪn ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/
A journal strategy where accepted manuscripts are published online before inclusion in a formal print issue or volume, providing immediate public availability. This accelerates dissemination while maintaining final article metadata assignment.
Plain English
Publishing accepted articles online immediately rather than waiting for a complete journal issue to be ready.
Etymology & History
Usage
"The journal adopted early online publication to reduce time-to-availability for accepted manuscripts by an average of three months."
Style guide notes: Hyphenate 'early-online' only when used attributively before 'publication'; otherwise use as two separate words.
Also known as
Contrasted with
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Do early online publications receive permanent DOIs and citations?
Yes; each early online article receives a persistent DOI and is fully citable immediately upon online release.
Are early published articles later republished in print issues?
Articles typically appear in subsequent print issues with unchanged content but may include updated pagination and volume/issue metadata.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Relevant for understanding contemporary journal publishing practices and digital dissemination models.
Required skill level: Junior