Reference-date issues found by Mentur
Distinguish publication dates from retrieval dates and correct missing or unnecessary information.
Updated August 9, 2026
By Equipo Mentur
On this page
How to review dates
The publication date tells readers when the work was released. A retrieval date tells them when you consulted content that may change and is not used in every reference.
Open the entry and identify the source type before adding or removing a date. If no publication date exists, use the form for missing information instead of inventing a year. If the content is stable or archived, check whether a retrieval date is unnecessary.
Read Dates in APA references to distinguish each case.
Issues Mentur may show
Find the same title shown in your report. Each explanation helps you understand the result, apply the correction, and consult the related APA rule.
Critical
Reference date missing
What we found
This reference is missing its publication date. In the reference list, the publication date follows the author and helps distinguish different works and versions. It is not the same as the date a webpage was visited; a retrieval date is added only for certain content that is designed to change over time.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Reference date missing” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Add the publication year after the author. Use “(n.d.)” when no date is available. Example: Author, A. A. (2023). Title.
- 3Read the complete entry after the change. Confirm its punctuation and order, then check whether its author and date match the corresponding in-text citation when applicable.
It should look like this:
With a date: Author, A. A. (2023). Title.
When no date is available: Author, A. A. (n.d.). Title.APA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapters 9 and 10: reference entries include the information readers need to identify and retrieve each source.
Read the rule in the APA guideWarning
Retrieval date missing
What we found
This changing source needs an access date. In the reference list, the publication date follows the author and helps distinguish different works and versions. It is not the same as the date a webpage was visited; a retrieval date is added only for certain content that is designed to change over time.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Retrieval date missing” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Add the retrieval date before the URL. Example: Retrieved July 3, 2024, from https://example.com
- 3Read the complete entry after the change. Confirm its punctuation and order, then check whether its author and date match the corresponding in-text citation when applicable.
It should look like this:
Retrieved July 3, 2024, from https://example.comAPA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapters 9 and 10: reference entries include the information readers need to identify and retrieve each source.
Read the rule in the APA guideMinor
Retrieval date is not needed
What we found
This reference includes an access date it does not need. In the reference list, the publication date follows the author and helps distinguish different works and versions. It is not the same as the date a webpage was visited; a retrieval date is added only for certain content that is designed to change over time.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Retrieval date is not needed” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Review author, date, title, source, DOI or URL, retrieval date, punctuation, order, and hanging indent as applicable.
- 3Read the complete entry after the change. Confirm its punctuation and order, then check whether its author and date match the corresponding in-text citation when applicable.
It should look like this:
https://example.comAPA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Chapters 9 and 10: reference entries include the information readers need to identify and retrieve each source.
Read the rule in the APA guide
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