The Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the comprehensive professional document used to assess scholarly output, experience, and productivity in research, academia, or specialized scientific fields. Accurately representing intellectual contributions, especially peer-reviewed works, is paramount for securing opportunities and recognition. The meaning of various publication statuses can often be unclear. Understanding terms like “in press” is necessary for properly communicating the full scope of one’s scholarly achievements and maximizing career opportunities.
Defining “In Press” in Academic Publishing
The designation “in press” carries a specific meaning within academic publishing workflows. This status signifies that a manuscript has successfully navigated the rigorous peer review process and received final, formal editorial acceptance from the journal’s leadership. The scholarly merit of the work is confirmed by experts in the relevant field, marking a successful quality check.
Production Phase
Once accepted, the article transitions into the publisher’s final production phase, moving beyond further academic revisions. This phase includes professional copyediting, typesetting, and generating author proofs for minor error correction before final printing. The core assurance of “in press” is that publication is guaranteed, even though specific details like volume, issue, and page numbers are still pending assignment.
Distinguishing “In Press” from Other Publication Stages
Understanding the timeline of academic publishing requires clear distinctions between statuses that precede formal publication. A manuscript labeled “submitted” or “under review” is still being assessed by a journal’s editorial board and external peer reviewers, meaning its fate is uncertain. Acceptance is contingent on feedback, and the work may still be rejected or require substantial revisions.
The term “accepted” is a broader editorial decision, sometimes used before a paper enters the production pipeline. While “accepted” confirms the decision to publish, “in press” represents a more advanced stage, indicating the work is actively undergoing formatting for its final appearance. This distinction confirms the publisher has committed resources to the physical preparation of the article.
Some journals use “forthcoming” as a direct synonym for “in press.” A stage beyond “in press” is “advance access” or “published online first,” often utilized by digital-first journals. When an article reaches this point, it has been assigned a permanent Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and is considered technically published and fully citable.
Why Listing “In Press” is Crucial for Your Career
Listing “in press” publications on a professional CV communicates an author’s current standing and productivity. This designation signals credibility, as the work has successfully passed the peer review system—the recognized standard for scholarly validation. It confirms to reviewers that the research methods and findings have been validated by experts in the field.
Listing these forthcoming works demonstrates continuous engagement and perseverance through the submission and revision cycles inherent in scholarly communication. It shows the candidate possesses research guaranteed to contribute new knowledge to their field in the immediate future. This documentation of imminent publication makes a candidate more competitive for research grants, academic positions, or postgraduate admissions, as it removes uncertainty surrounding the paper’s ultimate fate.
Practical Guide to Listing “In Press” Publications on a CV
Properly formatting an “in press” article ensures its value is clear and citable for the CV reviewer. These publications should be listed within the main “Publications” section, often positioned immediately following fully published, paginated works to maintain organizational flow. This placement reflects their status as completed and accepted research lacking final volume details.
The citation must adhere to a recognized style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, or Chicago) while integrating the necessary status information. This includes the full list of authors, the complete article title, and the official name of the journal or publisher. The final element of the citation must be the clear designation “(In Press)” in place of the usual volume and page numbers.
To provide verification, applicants should include available documentary proof within the entry. This often means adding the specific Digital Object Identifier (DOI) if assigned, or referencing the official date of acceptance or the expected year of publication. This detail helps the reviewer easily locate the paper and confirms its scheduled status.