How to Cite Advance Online Publications
Learn how to cite articles that have been published online ahead of their inclusion in a journal issue.
Basic Format
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/xxx
Example:
Smith, J. D., & Johnson, M. R. (2023). New research methods in digital environments. Journal of Research Methods. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1234/jrm.2023.789
Format Guidelines
Publication Status
- Include "Advance online publication" after the journal title
- Do not include volume, issue, or page numbers
- Always include DOI when available
Article Information
- Use the year of online publication
- Format title and journal name as usual
- Include any article numbers if assigned
In-Text Citations
Narrative Citation
Smith and Johnson (2023) found that...
According to Smith and Johnson (2023)...
Parenthetical Citation
...(Smith & Johnson, 2023)
...(Smith & Johnson, 2023, para. 5)
Special Cases
Article with Version Number
Some advance online publications include version numbers
Wilson, K. L. (2023). Digital research methods [Version 2]. Online Research Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1234/orj.v2
Updated Version
When citing an updated version of an advance online publication
Brown, R. T. (2023). Research findings [Updated from 2022 version]. Digital Methods Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1234/dmj.2023.456
When Article is Formally Published
Once the article is formally published in a journal issue:
- Update the reference to include volume, issue, and page numbers
- Remove "Advance online publication" note
- Keep the original year of publication
- Update the DOI if it has changed
Smith, J. D., & Johnson, M. R. (2023). New research methods in digital environments. Journal of Research Methods, 15(4), 234-256. https://doi.org/10.1234/jrm.2023.789
Key Points to Remember
- Always check if the article has been formally published before citing
- Include "Advance online publication" note for unpublished articles
- Use paragraph numbers instead of page numbers for direct quotes
- Keep track of articles you cite for potential updates
- Update references when articles are formally published