How should one format when citing an unpublished work?

Citing unpublished works requires formatting that clearly identifies the status and nature of the material to ensure transparency and traceability. Crucially, the citation must explicitly label the work as "unpublished," include all known details like the author, title, and year, and describe its form. Consistency with the chosen citation style is paramount. Key principles include providing sufficient detail for others to locate or understand the source and accurately representing its nature. Necessary details typically encompass the author's name, a descriptive title (often in quotation marks, not italics), the year, and a specific description of the material type (e.g., "unpublished manuscript," "unpublished raw data," "personal communication"). Essential precautions involve verifying the author's permission to cite personal communications and clearly differentiating between different types of unpublished sources in the reference list. When compiling the reference entry, begin by gathering all available information about the work. Next, select the appropriate reference type within your chosen style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), ensuring you correctly label it as "unpublished." Finally, format all details according to that specific style, maintaining consistency throughout the reference list. This practice supports scholarly integrity, aids reproducibility, and acknowledges sources accurately in research contexts.