Understanding how to cite sources that are in press is essential for maintaining academic integrity and ensuring your work reflects the most current research landscape. An in press citation refers to a scholarly source, such as a journal article or a book chapter, that has completed the peer-review process and has been accepted for publication but has not yet been assigned a final volume, issue, or publication date. This specific status presents a unique challenge for researchers and writers, requiring a distinct approach to documentation that differs from citing fully published works.
The Definition and Purpose of In Press Citations
The primary purpose of an in press citation is to provide verifiable credit to the original author's ideas while signaling to the reader that the source is forthcoming. This practice is common in fast-moving fields like medicine, technology, and social sciences, where research evolves rapidly. By citing an in press item, you are essentially saying, "This brilliant insight exists, it has been vetted by experts, and you will be able to access it very soon." It bridges the gap between citing a manuscript and citing a stable, retrievable publication, preventing accusations of plagiarism while acknowledging the contribution accurately.
Formatting Guidelines for APA In Press References
The American Psychological Association (APA) style provides a specific format for handling sources in press to ensure consistency across academic writing. The core elements remain similar to a standard APA citation, but specific adjustments are made to denote the pending status. Instead of a publication year, the phrase "in press" is used in the reference entry. This simple substitution clarifies the timeline without creating ambiguity for the reader who might be searching for the source in library databases.
Basic Structure and Author Order
When constructing an APA in press citation, the author's name follows the standard last name, first initial format. For a single author, you would list the surname followed by a comma and the first initial. If the work has two authors, the ampersand is used before the final author's name. For sources with three or more authors, you should list the first author's name followed by "et al." to maintain brevity and readability. The title of the article follows the author name, written in sentence case and enclosed in quotation marks.
Journal Information and Retrieval
After the title, the name of the journal is written in italics, followed by a comma. Because the volume and issue numbers may not be finalized, you should omit them if they are unavailable. Instead, you include the phrase "in press" where the publication year would normally appear. If the article is available online ahead of print, it is good practice to include a direct URL or the name of the database where it can be accessed. The URL should be a stable link, such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), to ensure the source remains retrievable long after the publication date is set.
