How to cite scientific and technological papers that do not have a standard publication format?

Citing papers without standard publication formats requires leveraging available metadata, documenting contextual details, and consistently applying style guide principles. It is feasible through careful description of the accessed source. Prioritize institutional or discipline-specific citation guidelines (APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE). Include essential elements like author(s), title, year, source location (repository, conference website, personal communication), and access date if applicable. Use descriptive notes for "forthcoming," "in preparation," or non-traditional contexts. Persistence identifiers (like DOIs or handles) are preferred over URLs when available. Always provide sufficient information for verification and retrieval. Adhere to these steps: First, identify all author-supplied metadata (title, authors, date). Second, locate the source (repository, lab website, preprint server) and note its details. Third, apply your required style guide consistently, documenting unconventional aspects like "Unpublished manuscript" or "Accessed via private correspondence on [date]". Employ stable identifiers if present. Crucially, aim for traceability so others can locate the source.