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4 months ago in Scholarly Publishing By Jasmin

What does "in press" or "forthcoming" mean on a CV, and how should I list a paper that has been accepted but not yet assigned to a volume/issue?

My paper just got the official acceptance email, but the editor said it could be months before it gets a DOI or appears online. Can I list it on my CV now? What's the correct way to format it—should I include the expected year?

All Answers (3 Answers In All)

By Rassika Jain Answered 2 months ago

Yes, you should absolutely list it this is a crucial part of your active record. "In press" or "forthcoming" means the journal has provided formal, written acceptance, and it is in the production queue. On your CV, list it under "Peer-Reviewed Publications" or a similar section. The standard format is:
Surname, I., & Other, A. (in press). Title of the paper. Journal Name.
If you know the expected year of publication (e.g., 2025), you can use "(forthcoming 2025)". Do not invent a volume, issue, or page numbers. Once you receive the proof or a DOI, you can update the entry with that link. This designation carries nearly the same weight as a published paper for job and grant applications, as it represents a vetted, secured contribution. Just be prepared to provide the acceptance letter if requested.

Replied 2 months ago

By Jasmin

Thank you, this was really helpful Rassika.

By Pragya Answered 1 month ago

I list accepted papers as “in press” to signal they’ve passed peer review. On my CV, I never add volume or page numbers until they’re officially assigned. If the journal provides an expected publication year, I include it as “forthcoming [year].”

It’s also useful to keep a copy of the acceptance letter in case a committee asks for verification. This keeps your record transparent and credible.

Replied 1 month ago

By Jasmin

Thanks a lot Pragya keeping the acceptance letter on hand is a really practical tip I hadn’t thought of.

By Aditi Sharma Answered 1 month ago

Think of “in press” as almost the same as published—it’s peer-reviewed, accepted, and in the pipeline. I list it under publications like any other paper, clearly noting it’s “in press” or “forthcoming.”

If you later get a DOI, you can add it to make the entry more formal. Committees generally treat these papers as a solid indicator of productivity, so don’t hesitate to include them.

Replied 1 month ago

By Jasmin

Really helpful advice, thank you Aditi! Framing “in press” as nearly equivalent to published makes me more confident listing them.

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