Answered By: Theresa Bell (she/her/hers)
Last Updated: Nov 02, 2021     Views: 32906

APA Style (7th ed.)

Per the 7th edition rules, authors should

provide a retrieval date in the source element when citing an unarchived (e.g., not stable) work that is likely or meant to change. Including this date indicates to readers that the version of the work they retrieve may be different from the version you used. (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 290)

Retrieval dates aren't necessary when referencing works that have archived versions; in fact, "the majority of references do not include retrieval dates; the types that might are noted in the applicable reference examples in Chapter 10" (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 290).

If you are working with a resource type where the reference includes a retrieval date, the format for the information is "Retrieved Month day, year, from URL". See page 290 and the relevant examples in Chapter 10 of the APA Style manual for more information.

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000