When citing manuscripts without complete publication information, what should be the format?

When citing manuscripts lacking complete publication details, follow guidelines that identify the work's status while maintaining essential elements. Key principles require indicating the manuscript's current state (e.g., "forthcoming," "submitted," "unpublished manuscript") to clarify its publication stage. Always include the author(s), manuscript title, and year where available. If the manuscript is accessible in a repository, such as SSRN or a university archive, include the repository name and stable URL or DOI. Accuracy regarding dates is crucial, distinguishing between the work's creation date, submission date, and the date you accessed it if it exists online. Standard style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) provide specific variations for formatting such citations. Specify the manuscript’s status in square brackets after the title: (e.g., *Title of Manuscript* [Unpublished manuscript] or *Title of Manuscript* [Manuscript submitted for publication]). List available authorship, title, and year information. If accessed online, include the repository name and persistent identifier or access date. Finally, select a recognized academic citation style consistently. This approach preserves scholarly integrity by making sources traceable despite incomplete publication metadata.