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How to Reference Something With No Date in APA

Good scholars are methodical and complete, but they often work with sources that are not. For every source that provides you with all the essential identifying information you need to correctly cite that source in a paper, article or book, you may have another source that omits at least one important item of identifying information. Publication date is one such item. Though you should make every effort to provide the publication or appearance date of your sources, sometimes a date isn't available. The American Psychological Association offers guidelines in its APA publication manual on how to reference a source without a date.

Instructions

    • 1

      Write the words "in press" within parentheses and followed by a period for a source that has been accepted for publication but is not yet published. For example, write Clay, V. (in press). Cicada song patterns. Journal of Insect Sounds, 23(1), 3--7.

    • 2

      Write the abbreviation "n.d." within parentheses and followed by a period for a source that does not have a date of publication. For example, write Flight, F. P. (n.d.). Aachen in the winter. Retrieved from http://www.quipping.com/html.

    • 3

      Write an estimated date preceded by the abbreviation "ca." within brackets and followed by a period for an archival source that is not dated. According to the APA, the estimated date should be "reasonably certain." For example, write Hieronymous, G. [ca. 1937]. The brevity of belief. Unpublished manuscript, Gage Hieronymous Papers. Shrove Library, Barters College, Willings, NV.

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