A conference paper often carries fresh research that researchers present to experts. Many times, these works are still under review and not officially published. At this point, someone might wonder how to handle it correctly, or simply think: How do you cite a conference paper under review?
Cite a conference paper under review by listing authors, title, year, and labeling it as “Manuscript submitted for publication” or “under review.” Do not include the conference name or proceedings until acceptance. If a preprint is public, add its link or DOI. Always follow the style guide of your publisher.
Readers who want to handle this correctly may look for more guidance. They might also feel curious about the rules for different citation styles. In this article, they will find every important detail about citing under review papers, differences between review stages, and common mistakes to avoid.
How Do You Cite a Conference Paper Under Review?
Citing a paper under review needs care and clear rules. You cannot treat it as published because it is not accepted yet. Instead, handle it based on whether the draft is publicly available or private. The following steps will keep your reference correct.
Step 1: Gather details
Write down the author names in the correct order, the full paper title, the year, and any link or DOI. Keep everything exactly as in the draft. These details will help you later to create a clean and accurate reference entry.
Step 2: Check availability
Look on common repositories such as arXiv, SSRN, OSF, or even the author’s official homepage. If you find a public version, use that link in your citation. If nothing appears, you will need to cite it as an unpublished manuscript instead.
Step 3: Avoid conference name
Do not mention the conference title, acronym, or proceedings while the paper is under review. You should only add those details once the paper is officially accepted. Writing them early gives readers the wrong impression, so keep the entry general until later.
Step 4: Format entry
Follow the correct format style required by your journal or conference. If there is a public version, cite it as a preprint with its URL or DOI. If not public, write Manuscript submitted for publication or under review with the year.
Step 5: Add citation
In your main text, insert the normal citation style, whether author-year or numeric. To help clarity, you may add the words under review directly in the sentence. This shows the paper’s status while keeping your references consistent and easy to read.
Step 6: Review rules
Check the rules of the target journal or conference before finalizing. Some venues do not allow citing papers that are not yet public. If forbidden, mention it only in your text and not in the reference list. Always follow their requirements carefully.
Step 7: Proofread carefully
Go back and check that every author’s name is spelled correctly, the order is accurate, the title matches the draft, and the year is right. Test every link or DOI. Fix small mistakes quickly. A careful check now saves later correction problems.
Step 8: Update later
Once the paper is officially accepted, replace the placeholder entry with the proper conference details. Add the conference name, year, publisher, location, page numbers if needed, and the DOI. Updating references later ensures your list is reliable, accurate, and professional-looking.
Step 9: Final check
Before submission, confirm that you did not mistakenly add the conference name too early. Make sure public drafts are listed as preprints, and private ones show submitted for publication. Check that every in-text reference matches the reference list. A clean list looks professional.
Citing under review papers must be done with clarity and honesty. Do not include conference information until the paper is fully accepted. Always follow the guidelines provided by the journal or conference. Update your references immediately after acceptance to keep your work accurate.
Which Citation Style Should I Use for a Conference Paper Under Review?
Writing a conference paper that is still under review requires close attention to citation style. The best choice depends on the rules of the conference or the journal where you plan to submit. Every publisher or academic organization has its own requirements, so the first step is to carefully check the submission guidelines they provide.
Here are the most common styles you might be asked to use:
1. APA Style (American Psychological Association)
APA is common in the social sciences, business, and health fields. The format varies depending on whether the paper was published in conference proceedings or only presented.
- For a paper published in proceedings (a book):
- Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of paper. In B. B. Editor (Ed.), Title of proceedings (pp. xx-xx). Publisher. DOI or URL
- Example: Shareef, M., Ojo, A., & Janowski, T. (2010). Exploring the digital divide in the Maldives. In J. Berleur, M. D. Hercheui, & L. M. Hilty (Eds.), What kind of information society? (pp. 51–63). Springer.
- For a paper presented but not published:
- Format: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day–Day). Title of paper [Paper presentation]. Conference Name, City, State, Country. URL (if available)
2. MLA Style (Modern Language Association)
MLA is primarily used in the humanities. It treats conference papers similarly to a chapter in a book or an article in a journal.
For a paper published in proceedings:
-
- Format: Author, First Name. “Title of Paper.” Title of Proceedings, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. xx-xx.
- Example: Hualde, José Ignacio. “Patterns of Correspondence in the Adaptation of Spanish Borrowings in Basque.” Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society, edited by Steven S. Chang et al., Berkeley Linguistics Society, 2000, pp. 348-58.
3. Chicago Style (Chicago Manual of Style)
Chicago style is widely used in history, the arts, and social sciences. It offers two main systems: Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date.
Notes and Bibliography (for an unpublished paper):
-
- Note: Chris Semansky, “Contemporary Poetry as Postmodern Commodity,” paper presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association, New Haven, CT, April 14, 2019.
- Bibliography: Semansky, Chris. “Contemporary Poetry as Postmodern Commodity.” Paper presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association, New Haven, CT, April 14, 2019.
General Tips
- Check the Author Guidelines: Always consult the specific citation guidelines provided by the conference organizers or the journal where you are submitting your work. This is the most reliable source for the correct formatting.
- Use a Citation Manager: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can automatically format citations for you, which helps ensure accuracy and saves time.
How to Decide
- If the conference guidelines are clear: Always follow what they say, even if it is a style you are less familiar with.
- If the guidelines do not mention a style: Look at recent papers published by the same conference or journal. See which style they follow and match it.
- If you are free to choose: Pick the style that matches your field. For example, APA for social sciences, MLA for humanities, or Chicago for history and law.
Using the right citation style is not just about formatting. It shows that you respect academic standards, helps reviewers read your work smoothly, and makes it easier for others to track your sources. A consistent style also reduces confusion and makes your paper look professional.
What Does “Under Review” Mean for a Conference Paper Citation?
Conference papers marked “under review” indicate that experts are still evaluating their quality. Since they are not yet accepted or published, they lack official details and cannot be treated as reliable citations. Instead, using a preprint is the better choice. Here’s what to keep in mind about citation and review status:
Plain Meaning
When a paper shows under review, it awaits a decision. Reviewers read it, judge its quality, and suggest changes or rejection. During this stage, nothing is final, and authors cannot claim acceptance. The work remains private, without pages, DOI, or public access.
Citation Limits
Because unpublished work lacks stable details, formal citations are not allowed. There are no page numbers, no DOI, and no permanent link. Readers cannot verify claims, which weakens your sources and arguments. Treat it as pending work, and avoid listing it as published.
Use Preprints
When a public preprint exists, cite that version for clarity. Platforms like arXiv or SSRN give stable links and dates. Readers can read the full work and judge your reference. Include authors, year, title, repository name, version or identifier, and URL.
Informal Mentions
If no preprint is available, you may mention the submission status. Write that the paper is submitted or under review at the conference. Do not format it like a formal citation or reference. Keep it brief, and never present it as confirmed or accepted work.
Review Process
Conference committees follow clear procedural checks before making decisions carefully. Editors screen submissions, assign reviewers, and collect detailed reports for evaluation. Decisions consider novelty, methods, results, and clarity of writing carefully. These actions match common steps to review a conference paper used in academic settings.
What Is the Difference Between Under Review, In Press, and Published Conference Paper Citations?
When looking at conference paper citations, it is important to understand the differences between “under review,” “in press,” and “published.” Each stage shows where the paper stands in the research process. These stages also decide how and when the paper can be cited.
| Aspect | Under Review | In Press | Published |
| Status | Submitted but not accepted yet. | Accepted and waiting for official release. | Fully accepted and released in conference proceedings. |
| Availability | Not public, only with the authors and reviewers. | Accepted version is confirmed but not yet widely available. | Publicly available to everyone through conference proceedings or a database. |
| Citation Use | Cannot be formally cited, only mentioned informally. | Can be cited as accepted, but without final details. | Can be cited formally as the official record of research. |
| DOI / Pages | No DOI, no page numbers. | No DOI or pages yet; details are pending. | Has DOI, volume, issue, and page numbers. |
| Reader Access | Readers cannot check the content. | Readers must wait until the official release to access the full paper. | Readers can access, download, and verify the full paper. |
| Credibility | Considered uncertain until acceptance. | Considered reliable because it passed peer review, but still unpublished. | Considered final and permanent in the academic record. |
A paper under review cannot be trusted as a formal source. An in-press paper is accepted and reliable, but final details are missing. A published paper is the official and complete version. Knowing these differences helps avoid mistakes in research citations.
What Are the Most Common Conference Paper Citation Mistakes?
Writing a conference paper requires careful attention to citations, as they are closely judged. Many papers get returned because references are not handled properly. A neat and accurate citation list shows respect for the rules and makes your work look reliable. Reviewers often check this section first before reading the content. Knowing the common mistakes will help you avoid them.
Wrong Style
Many writers do not follow the conference style rules and end up mixing different formats. This small mistake makes the paper look careless and unprofessional. Always use the exact citation style required by the conference. Following the rules shows seriousness and respect.
Mixed Format
Changing fonts, capitalization, or date formats in citations looks confusing and distracting. Readers expect the references list to follow one consistent pattern. Checking your references one by one helps maintain neatness. Consistency makes your paper look professional and easy to review.
Missing Details
Leaving out important details like page numbers, DOIs, or publishers makes it hard to find sources. Every in-text citation should connect to a complete reference. Careful checking of each reference entry prevents confusion and missing information. Complete details make your work stronger.
Over Citing
Adding too many citations for simple facts can clutter the text. Readers lose focus when every line has multiple sources. Instead, use citations only where evidence is needed. Balanced citation use makes your paper flow better and easier to follow.
Old Sources
Using only old references in a fast-changing field weakens your work. Readers expect to see both classic and recent studies in your paper. Updating your list with new research shows awareness of current knowledge. Mixing sources keeps your paper balanced and strong.
Missing Match
Sometimes papers include sources in the text but forget them in the references list. Other times, the list has works that are never cited inside. This mismatch looks careless and lowers the paper’s quality. Careful final checks solve this common problem.
Bad Quotes
Quoting without quotation marks or page numbers is a serious mistake. Copying too much text without proper credit can also look like plagiarism. Direct quotes should be short, accurate, and marked clearly. Paraphrasing with proper credit often works better for flow.
Premature Citation
One common mistake is treating a paper under review as if it were already published, without considering the importance of peer review in conference papers, which ensures that the work has been evaluated by experts before being cited as reliable. Always cite reviewed work.
Citation mistakes may seem small, but they damage the paper’s quality. A paper with neat, correct, and balanced references leaves a strong impression. Reviewers quickly notice mistakes in the reference list before anything else. Careful review of every citation improves your chance of acceptance.
FAQs About How Do You Cite a Conference Paper Under Review?
Citing a conference paper that is still under review can feel confusing. Writers often wonder how to show respect to the authors while also keeping their own work correct. The key is to follow the rules carefully and be honest about the paper’s status. These FAQs will guide you through common concerns in a simple way.
Can I Cite Without Permission?
You should not cite an under-review paper without the author’s agreement. This is because the draft may not be ready for wide use. If it is not publicly available, ask the author before citing. Respecting permission protects both you and the original writer.
Should I Add a Draft Version?
Mentioning that a paper is a draft version is a good idea. This tells readers the work is not yet final. It also keeps your writing clear and prevents confusion about its status. Transparency makes your reference list more reliable and professional.
How To Note Confidential Drafts?
When you have a private draft, treat it carefully. Do not upload or share the document beyond what is allowed. You can cite it as an unpublished manuscript if needed. Always show its private status so readers understand the limited access.
What If Authors Withdraw?
Sometimes, authors may withdraw a paper under review. If this happens, your citation becomes outdated quickly. You must update your own paper to remove or adjust the reference. Keeping old citations can mislead readers about the reliability of your sources.
Can I Use Personal Communication?
If an author shares their draft privately, you can treat it as personal communication. This is common when no public version exists. Personal communications are cited in-text but not always in the reference list. This way, your readers know the source is private.
Does Citing Affect Review?
Citing a paper under review does not change its review outcome. Reviewers judge the paper based on its quality, not on being cited. But citing it wrongly may look careless in your own work. Correct handling of the citation protects your reputation.
How to Handle Multiple Drafts?
Sometimes a paper under review exists in more than one version. If a preprint is available, always cite the latest posted version. This ensures readers can find the same copy you used. Mentioning the version helps avoid mix-ups or outdated information.
Are Email Citations Allowed?
If an author gives you details through email, it can be cited as personal communication. However, such citations are less strong because they are not public. Use them only when no other published or preprint source exists. Always confirm permission from the sender first.
Should I Translate Titles?
When a paper under review is in another language, keep the title in its original form. You may add a translation in brackets after it. This helps readers understand without changing the original text. Always keep the original version visible in your reference.
Do Reviewers Notice These Citations?
Conference reviewers often pay close attention to how you cite sources. Incorrectly citing an under-review paper may suggest carelessness. Correct citations show honesty and respect for academic rules. Reviewers value careful referencing as much as strong research content.
Conclusion
Writing about papers that are not yet accepted requires honesty and care in citations. A paper that is still under review cannot be treated as published, so the reference must reflect its temporary status. Clear labeling helps avoid confusion.
If you are asking, how do you cite a conference paper under review? the simple answer is: do not list it as published. Instead, cite it as a manuscript under review or mention a preprint link if one is available online. This keeps your work accurate.
As a final tip, always check the style guide of the journal or conference you are submitting to, and update your references once the paper is accepted. Proofread carefully, keep your sources neat, and best wishes for your upcoming research work.
