How Do You Cite An Unpublished Work?

Unpublished works include drafts, theses not yet published, manuscripts under review, or papers in preparation.

Unpublished works cover everything from rough drafts to theses gathering dust on a shelf, manuscripts stuck in peer review, or papers you’re still tweaking. The U.S. Copyright Office makes it clear: these materials stay protected by copyright until they’re formally published.

Use APA 7th edition format with a status note in square brackets.

APA 7th edition keeps things straightforward. The table below shows exactly how to format different types of unpublished work.

APA 7th Edition Format for Unpublished Manuscripts:

Treat your own unpublished work like any other unpublished source and include a status note.

Don’t give your own unpublished work a free pass. Cite it just like you would anyone else’s. Include the full citation and mention your dual role as author and citer. APA Style supports this—just be upfront about your involvement.

Cite manuscripts under review with author and year only; add journal details only after acceptance.

You can reference a manuscript under review by citing the author and year, but hold off on the journal name. Only add the journal once it’s accepted. APA Style suggests this to avoid giving the wrong impression.

Cite oral presentations or personal communications in-text only; do not include them in the reference list.

For something like an oral presentation or personal communication, use a format like (Author, personal communication, Month Day, Year) in the text. Skip the reference list entirely. APA Style considers these informal and non-retrievable, so they don’t belong in your bibliography.

Keep a clear record of unpublished sources, check for later publication, and confirm permissions when needed.

Keep track of your unpublished sources—drafts, emails, presentations—with their status and date. The U.S. Copyright Office notes that unpublished works are protected, so get permission if you plan to use them.

Do not list a journal name for submitted works because acceptance is not guaranteed.

Listing a journal name for a submitted work is risky business. It implies acceptance, which isn’t a sure thing. APA Style warns against this to keep things honest.

“In preparation” means still being written or revised; “submitted for publication” means sent to a journal but not yet accepted.

“In preparation” signals the work is still a work in progress—authors are drafting or revising. “Submitted for publication” means it’s been sent to a journal but hasn’t cleared the peer review hurdle yet. APA Style uses these terms to clarify where the work stands.

Yes, cite an unpublished thesis by specifying “Unpublished bachelor’s thesis” and the university name.

Absolutely, but make it clear it’s unpublished. Follow this format: Author, A. (Year). Title of thesis [Unpublished bachelor’s thesis]. University Name. APA Style spells this out for consistency.

Update the citation to the published version as soon as the work is accepted or published.

Swap out the unpublished format for the published version as soon as the work is accepted. APA Style insists on this to keep your references accurate.

Always ask for permission before using someone else’s unpublished work, even drafts or emails.

Even a draft or an email is someone’s intellectual property. Always ask for permission before using it. The U.S. Copyright Office treats unpublished works as protected, so don’t skip this step.

The safest way is author’s last name, year, and a clear status note like “Unpublished manuscript” or “Manuscript in preparation.”

Keep it simple: author’s last name, year, and a clear status note like “Unpublished manuscript” or “Manuscript in preparation.” Transparency is key here. APA Style backs this minimalist approach.

Update the citation as soon as the work is published to avoid inconsistencies.

Don’t let your references lag behind. Update the citation to the published version as soon as it’s out. APA Style stresses the importance of timely updates.

The biggest mistake is assuming unpublished works are public domain; they are protected and require proper citation and permission.

Here’s a common trap: thinking unpublished works are fair game. They’re not. Treat them like any other protected material—get permission if you need it and cite them properly. The U.S. Copyright Office confirms that unpublished works are protected, no matter where they’re hiding.

Can you cite an unpublished paper?

Sure—cite it just like any other work, with the author’s last name and the year it’s in progress or completed. Just remember: authors have copyright protection over their unpublished research, so don’t use it without permission.

How do you cite an unpublished paper in APA 7?

Start with the author’s initials and last name, then the year. Add the title of the manuscript, followed by the status in square brackets—like “Unpublished manuscript,” “Manuscript submitted for publication,” or “Manuscript in preparation.”

How do you cite an accepted but unpublished paper?

Skip the journal name entirely. Once the manuscript is accepted, cite it as an in-press article. APA (2020) puts it plainly: a submitted manuscript isn’t public, so don’t treat it like one.

Do you have to cite your own unpublished work?

If you quote or cite your previous work, treat yourself as the author and your old work as an unpublished source. Follow the same APA rules you’d use for anyone else’s work. And if your original piece had citations? You’ll need to include those in your new work too.

Which is reference to a published or unpublished source?

A citation is your formal nod to any source—published or unpublished—that you consulted while writing your paper. It’s how you give credit where it’s due.

Can you cite a paper under review?

Yes—cite it with the author’s name and the year it was written. Skip the journal name, though, because rejection is always a possibility.

What is the difference between accepted and in press?

“Accepted” comes first, then “forthcoming,” and finally “in press.” Think of it as a pipeline: accepted means the journal has said yes, forthcoming means it’s on the way, and in press means it’s about to hit the shelves.

How do you cite an unpublished undergraduate thesis?

1. List the author(s) of the thesis.
2. Add the year it was written.
3. Include the title of the thesis, followed by [Unpublished bachelor’s thesis].
4. End with the name of the university that awarded the degree.

What is the difference between published and unpublished thesis?

Here’s the distinction: if a thesis is uploaded to ProQuest or another scholarly database, it’s generally considered published. But if it’s sitting in a university’s e-repository or similar archive, it’s usually treated as unpublished.