How to Cite a Source with No Date
Missing publication dates are common with online sources, archived materials, and older documents. This guide shows you exactly how to handle undated sources in APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles with practical examples.
Why Sources Lack Dates
Publication dates may be missing from various sources for several reasons:
- Older websites that don't display publication dates
- Continuously updated web pages without version tracking
- Historical documents or archived materials
- Reference pages and encyclopedias
- Social media profiles or about pages
- Timeless content where dating isn't relevant
Each citation style has specific abbreviations and formats for handling missing dates. Using the correct format ensures your citations remain complete and professional.
APA Style: No Date Citations
Basic Rules for APA 7th Edition
In APA style, use (n.d.) which stands for "no date" when the publication date is unavailable. Place it where the year would normally appear in both reference list entries and in-text citations.
Reference list format:
Author, A. A. (n.d.). Title of work. Publisher. URL
APA Examples
Website with No Date
Reference list:
Johnson, M. (n.d.). Principles of sustainable agriculture. Sustainable Farming Institute. https://www.farminginstute.org/principles
In-text citation:
(Johnson, n.d.)
Web Page with Organization Author and No Date
Reference list:
National Institute of Health. (n.d.). Understanding clinical trials. https://www.nih.gov/clinical-trials
In-text citation:
(National Institute of Health, n.d.)
Multiple Sources by Same Author with No Date
Reference list:
Smith, J. (n.d.-a). First undated work.
Smith, J. (n.d.-b). Second undated work.
In-text citations:
(Smith, n.d.-a) and (Smith, n.d.-b)
Book with No Publication Date
Reference list:
Williams, R. (n.d.). A guide to medieval architecture. Heritage Publishing.
In-text citation:
(Williams, n.d.)
MLA Style: No Date Citations
Basic Rules for MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th edition simplified the handling of missing dates. Simply omit the publication date from the works cited entry if it's unavailable. No special abbreviation is required.
Works cited format:
Author. "Title of Work." Container Title, Publisher, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
MLA Examples
Website with No Date
Works cited:
Thompson, Sarah. "The History of Jazz Music." Music Archives, www.musicarchives.com/jazz-history. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
In-text citation:
(Thompson)
Article with No Author or Date
Works cited:
"Climate Change Effects on Wildlife." Environmental Science Today, www.environmentalscience.org/climate-wildlife. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
In-text citation:
("Climate Change Effects")
Book with No Publication Date
Works cited:
Anderson, Michael. Ancient Roman Engineering. Classical Studies Press.
In-text citation:
(Anderson 45)
Web Page Requiring Access Date
Works cited:
Davis, Robert. "Understanding Cryptocurrency." Tech Innovations Blog, www.techinnovations.com/cryptocurrency. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
In-text citation:
(Davis)
Chicago Style: No Date Citations
Basic Rules for Chicago 17th Edition
Chicago style uses n.d. (no date) in parentheses where the publication date would normally appear. The approach differs slightly between notes-bibliography and author-date systems.
Chicago Examples (Notes-Bibliography)
Website with No Date
Footnote/Endnote:
1. Patricia Brown, "The Future of Renewable Energy," Green Technology Review, n.d., https://www.greentechreview.com/renewable-energy.
Bibliography:
Brown, Patricia. "The Future of Renewable Energy." Green Technology Review. n.d. https://www.greentechreview.com/renewable-energy.
Book with No Date
Footnote/Endnote:
2. James Wilson, A History of European Art (New York: Heritage Press, n.d.), 234.
Bibliography:
Wilson, James. A History of European Art. New York: Heritage Press, n.d.
Chicago Examples (Author-Date)
Article with No Date
In-text citation:
(Martinez n.d., 12)
Reference list:
Martinez, Carlos. n.d. "Digital Marketing Strategies." Business Quarterly 45: 10-25.
Website with Organization and No Date
In-text citation:
(American Medical Association n.d.)
Reference list:
American Medical Association. n.d. "Patient Care Guidelines." https://www.ama-assn.org/guidelines.
Quick Reference Table
| Citation Style | Abbreviation | Format Example |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7th | (n.d.) | Author. (n.d.). Title. |
| MLA 9th | Omit date entirely | Author. "Title." Accessed date. |
| Chicago 17th | n.d. | Author. Title. n.d. |
When to Include Access Dates
Access dates (the date you viewed the source) serve different purposes in each citation style:
APA Style
Include access dates only for sources that are likely to change over time or that don't have publication dates, such as:
- Wikipedia articles
- Live data or statistics pages
- Social media profiles
- Continuously updated content
APA with access date:
"Quantum computing." (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing
MLA Style
Always include access dates for online sources in MLA 9th edition, especially when no publication date is available.
Chicago Style
Access dates are optional in Chicago style but recommended for undated web content or sources likely to change.
Tips for Finding Publication Dates
Before marking a source as undated, thoroughly search for date information:
- Check the URL - Some sites include dates in the web address
- View page source - Look for metadata tags that may contain dates
- Copyright notice - May indicate publication or update year
- About or footer sections - Often contain publication information
- Wayback Machine - Can show when content first appeared online
- Author bio or profile - May reference when content was created
- Comments or discussion dates - Can indicate approximate publication timeframe
Special Cases
Copyright Date vs. Publication Date
A copyright date is not the same as a publication date. Only use the copyright year if no other date is available, and it's reasonable to assume they're the same.
Reprints and New Editions
For reprinted works where the original publication date is unknown, use the reprint date. If both dates are available, include both.
Undated Historical Documents
For historical documents where the exact date is unknown but the approximate period is, you may include circa (c.) with an estimated year, or use n.d. if completely uncertain.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the current year when no date is available—always use the proper abbreviation
- Forgetting to include n.d. in APA style—this is required, not optional
- Adding unnecessary abbreviations in MLA—simply omit the date
- Confusing access date with publication date—these serve different purposes
- Using website copyright year as publication date—only do this if clearly applicable
Automatic Date Handling
Our citation generator automatically detects missing dates and formats your citations correctly for APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles.
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