To cite a manuscript under review, label it as an unpublished work or “manuscript submitted for publication,” then follow your style’s format.
You’re writing now, and a source you need sits in limbo. It’s not published yet. It’s under review. You still can cite it, but the label and format must match your style guide. This guide shows the standard wording and layout across APA, Chicago, MLA, IEEE, and Vancouver, with copy-ready models.
What “Under Review” Means For Citations
“Under review” signals a submitted manuscript still in peer review. It isn’t accepted, and it may never appear in the journal you expect. Treat it as unpublished unless a public preprint exists. If a preprint lives on a repository with a stable link or DOI, cite that version instead. If no public version exists, give readers a clear status label and enough detail to trace the work.
Always match the journal’s house style. When in doubt, follow the official style manuals. Two solid starting points are the APA Style guidance for unpublished works and Chicago’s Author-Date quick guide.
Style Quick Guide: Cite A Manuscript Under Review
The models below fit common cases. Replace italics and brackets with your details.
| Style | In-Text | Reference Entry Model |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | (Surname, Year) | Surname, A. A., & Surname, B. B. (Year). Title of manuscript [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department, University. |
| Chicago Author-Date | (Surname Year) | Surname, First. Year. “Title of Manuscript.” Unpublished manuscript. |
| Chicago Notes-Bib | Note | 1. First Surname, “Title of Manuscript,” unpublished manuscript, Year. |
| MLA 9 | (Surname Page) | Surname, First. “Title of Manuscript.” Year. Unpublished manuscript. |
| IEEE | [#] | [#] A. A. Surname, “Title of paper,” unpublished, Year. |
| Vancouver/AMA | Superscript | Surname AA. Title of manuscript. Unpublished manuscript. Year. |
APA 7: Manuscript Under Review
APA allows clear status labels in square brackets after the title. Use [Manuscript submitted for publication] for a paper under review. If the draft you read shows a date, use that year. Add a department or university only when the source needs a place. No journal name. No DOI for a private submission.
APA In-Text
(Lopez & Karim, 2024)
APA Reference
Lopez, M., & Karim, R. (2024). Neural markers of habit strength [Manuscript submitted for publication]. School of Psychology, Northbridge University.
Chicago: Author-Date And Notes Systems
Chicago gives two tracks. In the Author-Date system, cite in text as (Surname Year) and place an entry in the reference list. For a draft that isn’t public, describe it as an unpublished manuscript. In the Notes-Bibliography system, put the full detail in a note the first time.
Chicago Author-Date
In-text: (Chen 2025)
Reference: Chen, Lihua. 2025. “Quantum Walks on Irregular Graphs.” Unpublished manuscript.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography
1. Lihua Chen, “Quantum Walks on Irregular Graphs,” unpublished manuscript, 2025.
MLA 9: Treat It As Unpublished
MLA uses author-page in text and a Works Cited entry that names the author, the title in quotation marks, the year, and a description. Use “Unpublished manuscript.” If pagination exists, include page numbers in text.
MLA In-Text
(Nguyen 12)
MLA Works Cited
Nguyen, Hoa. “Translating Rain Dialects.” 2023. Unpublished manuscript.
IEEE And Vancouver: Numbered Styles
Both styles use numeric citations. In IEEE, the entry can end with “unpublished.” In Vancouver/AMA, write “Unpublished manuscript” and the year. Do not give a journal name for a submission.
IEEE Sample
[15] S. Patel and J. Ortiz, “Hybrid kernels for online learning,” unpublished, 2024.
Vancouver Sample
15. Patel S, Ortiz J. Hybrid kernels for online learning. Unpublished manuscript. 2024.
Citing A Paper Under Review — Common Cases
There’s A Public Preprint
Cite the preprint instead of the private submission. Keep its DOI or repository link. If a journal version later appears, update your final manuscript to cite the published article.
Double-Blind Submission
When you cite your own work that is under review in a double-blind venue, use a neutral third-person phrasing in the text and a generic status in the reference. Do not name the journal or disclose authorship in a way that breaks anonymity.
The Title May Change
That happens often during revision. Accuracy matters. Use the current title on the draft you consulted. If you also cite a preprint, follow the preprint’s title as posted.
Accepted But Not Out
Shift the label from “submitted” to “in press” or “forthcoming” only after acceptance. Until then, treat it as a submission or an unpublished manuscript.
Avoid These Pitfalls
- Do not list the target journal while the paper is under review.
- Do not paste a DOI unless the cited version actually has one.
- Do not link to private files. Share only public preprints or data with persistent links.
- Do not mark a draft as “in press” before a formal acceptance.
- Do not skip the status label. Readers need to know the version you used.
How To Phrase The Status
Pick wording that fits the real stage. Here’s a compact map you can adapt per style.
| Label | When To Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript submitted for publication | Submitted and under peer review | APA bracket label; works in other styles as plain text. |
| Unpublished manuscript | No submission or status unknown | Chicago, MLA, Vancouver, IEEE accept this wording. |
| Manuscript in preparation | Draft not yet submitted | Use only when the work is still being written. |
| In press / Forthcoming | Accepted, awaiting publication | Use after acceptance, not during review. |
| Advance online publication | E-pub ahead of print | Cite as an online article with DOI, not as “under review.” |
Ready-To-Copy Templates
APA 7
Surname, A. A., & Surname, B. B. (Year). Title of manuscript [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department, University.
Chicago Author-Date
Surname, First. Year. “Title of Manuscript.” Unpublished manuscript.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography
1. First Surname, “Title of Manuscript,” unpublished manuscript, Year.
MLA 9
Surname, First. “Title of Manuscript.” Year. Unpublished manuscript.
IEEE
[#] A. A. Surname and B. B. Surname, “Title of paper,” unpublished, Year.
Vancouver/AMA
#. Surname AA, Surname BB. Title of manuscript. Unpublished manuscript. Year.
Proof Checklist Before You Submit
- In-text matches the reference entry.
- Status label is accurate for the draft you used.
- No journal names or volume data for an under review draft.
- Public preprint cited when available; DOI included where present.
- House style rules applied for punctuation, capitalization, and italics.