How to Cite a Forthcoming Work in APA Format

Understanding Forthcoming Publications in APA

Forthcoming publications are works that have been accepted for publication but haven’t yet been released. These might be journal articles scheduled for future issues, books contracted with publishers, or other scholarly works in the publication pipeline.

Citing forthcoming works requires specific APA formatting to distinguish them from published materials. The term “in press” replaces the traditional publication year, indicating the work is accepted and forthcoming but not yet publicly available.

Forthcoming citations are common in academic research when you reference cutting-edge work that supports your arguments but hasn’t officially been published yet.

Basic APA Format for Forthcoming Journal Articles

The basic structure for citing a forthcoming journal article in APA format is:

Author, A. A. (in press). Title of article. Title of Journal.

The phrase “in press” appears in parentheses where the year would normally go. This signals readers that the publication is forthcoming. Include the journal title in italics.

If you have additional publication information like the volume number or expected publication month, include it after the journal name. However, page numbers typically aren’t available for forthcoming articles, so omit that element.

Basic APA Format for Forthcoming Books

The format for citing forthcoming books in APA is:

Author, A. A. (in press). Title of book. Publisher name.

Include the publisher’s name if you have it, as this information may be available in press releases or promotional materials. The “in press” notation replaces the publication year.

For edited books with multiple contributors, include the editor names with “Ed.” or “Eds.” designation after their names, followed by the in press date.

Examples of Forthcoming Work Citations

Example 1: Forthcoming journal article

Martinez, J. (in press). Neural mechanisms of learning. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Example 2: Forthcoming book

Thompson, S. (in press). Climate change and global economics. Oxford University Press.

Example 3: Forthcoming article in edited collection

Johnson, P. (in press). Ethical frameworks in artificial intelligence. In K. Chen (Ed.), The ethics of emerging technologies. Cambridge University Press.

Forthcoming Works in Different Disciplines

Different academic fields may have varying expectations for citing forthcoming works. Some disciplines heavily use forthcoming citations, while others discourage relying on unpublished materials.

In rapidly advancing fields like technology or medicine, forthcoming citations are especially common because important research may be in press while you’re writing. Check your field’s conventions and your instructor’s or publisher’s specific guidance.

Some fields prefer limiting forthcoming citations in final drafts, favoring only published or accepted in-press materials for formal publications.

Distinction Between In Press and Unpublished Manuscripts

“In press” specifically means the work has been accepted for publication and is scheduled to appear. This differs from unpublished manuscripts that haven’t been accepted. The distinction matters for citation purposes.

Unpublished but accepted manuscripts should be cited with “(in press).” Manuscripts submitted but not yet accepted should be cited as “unpublished manuscript” instead.

The difference signals to readers whether the work has undergone peer review and been approved for publication (in press) or remains in submission or under review (unpublished manuscript).

Including Page Numbers or Issue Information

For forthcoming journal articles, you may not have page numbers available. If you do have advance online publication information, provisional page numbers, or article numbers assigned by the journal, include them.

Format: Author, A. A. (in press). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), article number or provisional pages.

Not all journals provide this information in advance, so if it’s unavailable, citing just the journal name is acceptable.

Accessing Information About Forthcoming Works

Forthcoming works are typically announced through journal websites, publisher websites, university press releases, or conference announcements. Check these sources for accurate information about the forthcoming publication.

Many journals maintain “articles in press” pages listing works accepted but not yet published. These pages provide citations and sometimes advance access to articles.

For books, publisher websites and author websites often announce forthcoming titles with publication information.

When to Use Forthcoming Citations Appropriately

Include forthcoming citations when the work is directly relevant to your research and has clear acceptance for publication. Don’t overuse forthcoming citations, as they may suggest your work relies too heavily on unpublished research.

In final published versions of your work, limit forthcoming citations to essential references. By publication time, some forthcoming works may have been published, allowing you to cite the published version instead.

Balance your use of forthcoming citations with citations to already-published materials for stronger academic credibility.

Creating Forthcoming Citations with GenText

GenText simplifies the process of creating APA citations for forthcoming works. The platform automatically formats “in press” publications correctly and ensures your citations follow current APA standards.

When you input a forthcoming work’s information into GenText, the software generates a properly formatted APA citation with “(in press)” in the correct location. This eliminates confusion about date formatting for unpublished but accepted materials.

GenText helps you maintain consistency if you’re citing multiple forthcoming works, ensuring all follow the same formatting pattern.

Updating Citations When Works Are Published

Keep track of forthcoming works you’ve cited. When they’re officially published, update your citations to include the actual publication year, volume, issue, and page numbers.

This practice demonstrates academic diligence and ensures your final bibliography includes the most complete publication information available. Many academic communities expect citations to be updated when previously forthcoming works become published.

Document the original forthcoming status for your own records, but update formal citations to reflect published status.

Common Mistakes with Forthcoming Citations

One common error is citing materials as “in press” when they haven’t actually been accepted for publication. Only use this designation for materials officially accepted by a publisher or journal.

Another mistake is omitting “in press” entirely and simply leaving the year blank. The “in press” notation is essential for clarity—it tells readers the work is forthcoming, not that you forgot the publication date.

Avoid providing outdated information. If a forthcoming work has been published by the time you complete your citations, update it to the published version.

Conclusion

Proper citation of forthcoming works in APA format shows scholarly awareness of cutting-edge research and upcoming publications in your field. By using the “(in press)” notation and including all available publication information, you create accurate citations that help readers understand your sources’ publication status. Utilize formatting tools like GenText to ensure forthcoming work citations are correctly formatted and consistent throughout your research.