How do I cite a preprint in IEEE?

To cite a preprint in IEEE (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a preprint in IEEE?

In IEEE, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]

← All Citation Guides

How to Cite a Preprint in IEEE (standard)

Learn how to cite arXiv, bioRxiv, and other preprint server papers in IEEE format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

IEEE Reference List Format

Here is the standard IEEE format for citing a preprint in your reference list:

[1] A. A. Author and B. B. Author, "Title of preprint," Repository Name, arXiv:xxxx.xxxxx, Year. [Online]. Available: https://arxiv.org/abs/xxxx.xxxxx

IEEE Example for a Preprint

A complete IEEE reference for a preprint, formatted by the official IEEE CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

[1] I. Petrov and A. Osei, “Reference accuracy in large language model output,” Mar. 02, 2024, 2403.01234. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2403.01234.

Matching in-text citation: [1]

IEEE In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

[1]

Narrative

In [1], Author reported...

Key IEEE Formatting Rules

Put the preprint title in quotation marks.
Include the arXiv identifier (e.g., arXiv:2401.01234) where available.
Use [Online] and Available: for the stable URL.
Number references in order of first appearance.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your preprint.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the IEEE (standard) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match IEEE requirements.

Generate This Citation Automatically

Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted IEEE citation in seconds.

Cite in IEEE Now →

Cite a Preprint in Other Styles

Preprint in APA Preprint in MLA Preprint in Chicago Preprint in Harvard Preprint in Vancouver Preprint in AMA Preprint in Turabian Preprint in CSE Preprint in BibTeX Preprint in Nature Preprint in ACS Preprint in OSCOLA Preprint in Bluebook Preprint in AGLC Preprint in ASA Preprint in APSA Preprint in AAA Preprint in NLM Preprint in ACM Preprint in APS Preprint in AIP Preprint in Cell Preprint in Science Preprint in PLOS Preprint in BMJ Preprint in Lancet Preprint in JAMA Preprint in Elsevier Harvard Preprint in Springer

Cite Other Sources in IEEE

Website in IEEE Book in IEEE Journal Article in IEEE YouTube Video in IEEE Podcast in IEEE Newspaper Article in IEEE Magazine Article in IEEE Blog Post in IEEE Wikipedia in IEEE PDF in IEEE Interview in IEEE Social Media Post in IEEE Government Document in IEEE Dissertation or Thesis in IEEE Conference Paper in IEEE Lecture or PowerPoint in IEEE Webinar in IEEE Online Course in IEEE PowerPoint Presentation in IEEE Image or Photograph in IEEE Movie or Film in IEEE Documentary in IEEE TV Show in IEEE Song or Music in IEEE Poem in IEEE Court Case in IEEE Patent in IEEE Encyclopedia Entry in IEEE Dictionary Entry in IEEE Dataset in IEEE Software or App in IEEE Video Game in IEEE Press Release in IEEE Report in IEEE Book Chapter in IEEE ChatGPT in IEEE Bible in IEEE TED Talk in IEEE Email in IEEE Reddit or Forum Post in IEEE X (Twitter) Post in IEEE Map in IEEE