Open-access
What it means
Freely available without unnecessary cost or restriction.
Reach for it when describing research or resources available online without a reader paywall
The open-access archive lets anyone study the town's early maps.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
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| everyday | |
| professional |
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| formal |
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playful
unpaywalled
Fits when the specific absence of a paywall is the point
Careful No paywall says nothing about permanence or licensing.
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everyday
free-to-read
Fits when readers may view the work without charge
Careful Reading permission does not permit adaptation.
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everyday
freely available
Fits when absence of reader payment is the main fact
Careful Free access does not grant reuse rights.
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professional
Fits when broad access and reuse are both documented
Careful Open needs a license and conditions named.
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professional
publicly accessible
Fits when the public can reach the material
Careful Access may still require registration or location.
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formal
gratis access
Fits when price-free access is distinguished from libre reuse
Careful The terminology is specialized.
Opposites 3
- paywalled
- restricted-access
- closed
Common phrases 3
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open-access journal
The open-access journal published every dataset beside the article.
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open-access archive
An open-access archive lets residents study the original maps.
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open-access publishing
Open-access publishing shifted fees away from readers.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Open access can mean free reading or licensed reuse; identify the license, version, permanence, and any author fee.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated