How to cite unpublished works and preprints in APA 7
Learn how to create the reference and in-text citations for unpublished manuscripts, works in preparation, and preprints.
Updated August 2, 2026
By Andrés Rivas
On this page
- References and in-text citations for unpublished works
- Unpublished manuscript structure
- Unpublished manuscript example
- Submitted works and preprints
- More examples by publication status
- Manuscript in preparation
- Manuscript submitted for publication
- Preprint
- Work in an institutional repository
- Work from ERIC
- How to check the reference
References and in-text citations for unpublished works
This guide explains how to create the APA reference and in-text citations for unpublished manuscripts, works in preparation, submitted manuscripts, and preprints.
The main difference is retrievability. A manuscript held only by its author has no URL. A preprint in a repository can be retrieved by readers.
Unpublished manuscript structure
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of manuscript [Unpublished manuscript]. Department, Institution.
The year describes when the draft was written or completed. Place the work's status in square brackets after the title, not in the date element.
Unpublished manuscript example
The details are illustrative.
Reference
Mejia, R. A., & Torres, L. P. (2024). Student participation in hybrid courses [Unpublished manuscript]. School of Education, Northern University.
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024).
(Mejia & Torres, 2024)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024).
Mejia and Torres (2024)
Submitted works and preprints
For a submitted work, use [Manuscript submitted for publication] after the title. Do not name the journal to which it was submitted. After acceptance, cite it as an in-press article.
A preprint or other work in a repository is informally published. Include the archive or repository name and the DOI or URL that makes it retrievable.
More examples by publication status
All publication details and addresses are illustrative.
Manuscript in preparation
Reference
Ocampo, J. L. (2026). Strategies for planning a literature review [Manuscript in preparation]. Department of Education, Metropolitan University.
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Ocampo, 2026)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Ocampo (2026)
Manuscript submitted for publication
Reference
Prieto, A. M., & Solano, R. (2025). Peer feedback in hybrid courses [Manuscript submitted for publication]. School of Social Sciences, Central University.
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Prieto & Solano, 2025)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Prieto and Solano (2025)
Preprint
Reference
Valdes, C. P., & Moreno, L. A. (2025). Reading comprehension and digital annotation [Preprint]. Open Education Archive. https://example.com/preprints/annotation
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Valdes & Moreno, 2025)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Valdes and Moreno (2025)
Work in an institutional repository
Reference
Pena, D. R. (2024). Observation guide for academic tutoring [Working paper]. Regional University Repository. https://example.com/repository/tutoring-guide
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Pena, 2024)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Pena (2024)
Work from ERIC
Reference
Cifuentes, M. A. (2023). Writing practices in technical programs (ERIC No. ED650001). ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED650001
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Cifuentes, 2023)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Cifuentes (2023)
How to check the reference
- You determined whether readers can retrieve the work.
- You used the year of writing rather than a status phrase as the date.
- You described the manuscript status in square brackets.
- You did not include the journal receiving a submitted work.
- You included a repository and link only for an online version.
- The citation uses the authors and year.
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