FAQs
Find quick answers to common questions about using Manuscribbl, so you can navigate and contribute with confidence.
How do I publish my notes, and how long does it take?
Posting is a breeze! First, you’ll need to register an account so we can verify you are an academic author.
If you register with a @cam.ac.uk email address: Your account is approved instantly. You can immediately log in, hit submit, paste your Google Doc link, and your notes will go live right away.
If you use another institutional email: Our team does a quick manual review to approve your account registration. This doesn’t take long! Once approved, you’ll receive an email, and you can then log in and instantly publish your first Scribble.
What are some types of notes I can add?
Annotations, addenda, summaries, additional results, thoughts – anything goes, as long as it is professional and appropriate. You could:
- Reference a specific page, subheading or figure from your published paper and add deep-dive commentary directly below it. A great format to use is: “[Page Number] – [Subheading] – [First few words of the line]…”.
- Answer in one place all the questions you get for your paper – such as advice for replicating experiments – so people will bother you less.
- Provide anything you couldn’t include in the paper, such as supporting experiments and negative results.
- Discuss the concepts behind the project, your journey, or just how you think your work should be interpreted, because the publisher’s word limit wouldn’t let you.
How secure is Manuscribbl?
Manuscribbl uses industry-standard SSL encryption to keep your connection completely secure. When it comes to your notes, we never have access to your private files. You are simply sharing a “View Only” link to one specific document, meaning you maintain 100% control over your data.
Can I edit or delete my submitted notes?
Absolutely. Because you are linking to a live Google Doc, you can continuously edit, update, or add to your notes directly from your own Drive at any time. The changes will instantly be visible to readers—no need to re-upload anything or deal with annoying site updates! If you ever want to change the link itself, or completely remove your notes from Manuscribbl, you can do so at any time. There is zero pressure and absolutely no permanent commitment.
Does Manuscribbl moderate submissions?
We will periodically make sure that any notes posted are by the actual authors of the paper.
We also want Manuscribbl to be a helpful, frank, and welcoming space for the academic community. To keep the platform safe and valuable for everyone, we reserve the right to remove any posts or links that contain disrespectful, offensive, or inappropriate material. Let’s keep it professional, insightful, and kind!
Will posting notes here conflict with my publisher’s copyright?
You aren’t uploading or distributing the actual published paper here, you are simply sharing additional notes and commentary. To ensure you are respecting publisher agreements, please do not upload final figures, tables, or copy-paste large, verbatim blocks of text from the published paper. Instead, simply reference the section you are talking about (e.g., “Regarding Figure 2…” or “On Page 4…”) and write your notes below it. (Publisher agreements can vary. If you are concerned, we recommend doing a quick check of your specific publisher’s terms.)
Discover Detailed Annotations on Academic Papers
Find essential tools and insights crafted to enrich your academic research journey.
Getting Started
Learn the basics of navigating and contributing to manuscripts effectively.
Submission Guidelines
Understand the process and requirements for submitting your own annotations.
Community Collaboration
Explore how users engage and enhance research through shared notes.
Using Manuscribbl
Discover how Manuscribbl enables academics to explore and contribute insightful annotations to enrich research discussions.
Step One: Explore and Discover
Begin by browsing existing annotations to deepen your understanding of key research papers.
Step Two: Contribute Your Insights
Share your own annotations and notes after approval to collaborate with the academic community.
Step Three: Engage and Collaborate
Interact with fellow researchers to refine ideas and enhance the academic discourse.