manuscript
nounPronunciation: /ˈmænjʊskrɪpt/
Also written as: MS
An author's written work submitted for publication before it undergoes formal editing and typesetting. It represents the raw scholarly content prior to publisher formatting.
Full Definition
A manuscript is the original written work submitted by an author to a publisher or journal for consideration and publication. In academic publishing, it typically includes the complete text, references, figures, and tables but lacks the final formatting, layout, and design elements that will appear in the published version. The manuscript serves as the foundation document that undergoes peer review, editorial evaluation, and various stages of editing before becoming a published work. It may exist in multiple versions as revisions are made throughout the editorial process.
Plain English
The original written work that an author sends to a journal or publisher, before it gets edited and formatted into its final published form.
In Editorial Context
The foundational document in the editorial workflow that undergoes successive rounds of review, revision, and editing to transform from submitted form into publishable content.
Etymology & History
Originally referred to handwritten documents before the printing press, evolved to mean any author's original work submitted for publication.
Shifted from exclusively handwritten documents to typed and now digital submissions while retaining the concept of original authorial work.
Usage
"The library's institutional repository accepts the final peer-reviewed manuscript version for deposit after the embargo period expires."
Usage note: Distinguish between different manuscript versions (submitted, revised, accepted) in editorial workflows.
Context: academic publishing, editorial workflows, submission processes
Region: international
Also known as
Contrasted with
Don't confuse with
Often confused with preprint (pre-peer review) or postprint (post-peer review) - manuscript is more general and can refer to any stage of the unpublished work.