access date

USAGE SUMMARY

"access date" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the date that information was accessed or retrieved from an online source. For example, "I accessed the information from the website on April 10, 2021; the access date was April 10, 2021".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

We compared MLVA types with MLVA types in the publicly accessible Multiple Loci VNTR Analysis databases for genotyping: Coxiella2007 and Coxiella2009_Netherlands (access date 2001 Jan 11).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Access date.

Cornell University

The economic and social costs of mental health problems in 2009/10, < http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/pdfs/Economic_and_social_costs_2010.pdf> (2010) (Access Date: 14/03/2015).

Nature

Note: in APA style, no access date is necessary for information that will not be changed or updated, like an electronic book or a journal or newspaper article.

Yale University

"It's very important for the tenant to keep notes of everything that happens -- or doesn't happen -- on each access date," she said, adding that such notes will then be valuable if the landlord does not make the required repairs.

The New York Times

Using all available resources, each pair should find the answers to the following guiding questions (distributed on a handout for easier student access): DATE: On which date is the new year traditionally celebrated in this culture or religion?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"It could take three or four rounds of access dates and court appearances before the landlord makes the repairs or the court holds him in contempt for not making them".

The New York Times

Cash and Kosher Pizza The story of how the dress shop manager and the grocer gained their unusual access dates to 1994, when a politician looking to become governor bonded with a Hasidic sect looking to assert itself.

The New York Times

Guidance notes were emailed to all participants to describe the registration procedure, access dates for learning, and the examination.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The introduction of access dates and the reduction of stocking densities and/or the duration of the herds' sojourn in particular areas may help to improve herbage offer and to sustain animal production.

Pastoralism

According to emails I've exchanged with the Highpointers Club, a national climbing group, I've been told that I can only get through on a few annual "access dates" they'd negotiated with the owners.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When citing online sources, always include the "access date" to show when you retrieved the information, as web content can change over time.

Common error

Do not reuse an old "access date" if you revisit a source. Always update it to reflect the most recent date you consulted the material.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "access date" primarily functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It typically acts as a label or identifier for a specific point in time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

21%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "access date" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that specifies when a particular online resource was consulted. Ludwig AI confirms that "access date" is correct and usable in written English. It is important to include an "access date" when citing online resources because web content can change over time. It is mostly used in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When writing, remember to update the "access date" if you revisit a source. Consider using alternatives like "date of retrieval" or "retrieval date" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

date of access

Swaps the order of words maintaining the same meaning.

date of retrieval

Replaces "access" with "retrieval", emphasizing the act of obtaining the information.

retrieval date

Similar to "date of retrieval", it focuses on when the information was retrieved.

date last accessed

Highlights that the date refers to the last time the resource was accessed.

date of visit

Emphasizes the action of visiting a website or online resource.

date of consultation

Refers to the specific day the resource was consulted.

date of examination

Indicates the specific day a resource was examined.

date of inspection

Specifies the date the resource was inspected.

date of acquisition

Focuses on when the data or information was acquired.

scrape date

Common term in Data Science to describe when the data was scrapped.

FAQs

How do I properly format an "access date" in a citation?

The format varies by citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Generally, it includes the month, day, and year you accessed the online resource. For example: Accessed 14 August 2025.

When is an "access date" necessary in a citation?

An "access date" is generally required for online sources that are likely to change or be updated, such as websites or online articles. It may not be needed for stable sources like electronic books.

What can I say instead of "access date"?

You can use alternatives like "date of retrieval", "retrieval date", or "date last accessed" depending on the context.

Why is it important to include an "access date" when citing online sources?

Including the "access date" provides context for when you viewed the information, as online content can be modified or removed. This helps readers understand the source's validity at the time of your research.