Key points at a glance
- Search for source details.
- Mark genuinely missing fields.
- Preserve the version consulted.
Look for author and date carefully
Check page header, footer, about page and the specific entry. An organisation can be a group author. A sitewide copyright year is not automatically the publication date of the page you used.
Handle missing elements by style
Example: A university page has a clear title and institutional author but no date. APA may use the group author and “n.d.”; if the author truly is absent, the entry begins with the title. Other styles have different conventions.
Preserve a traceable location
Record the exact URL, title, relevant section and retrieval date when the style calls for it or the page changes regularly. Use an archived version when available and permitted. Pages printed from a website do not gain stable page numbers.
Evaluate reliability separately
A correctly formatted citation cannot make an unsupported webpage good evidence. Seek original data or scholarship for central empirical claims. A university or official agency page may still be the authoritative source for its own procedure.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Group author checked.
- Footer year not misused.
- Style rule followed.
- URL and section saved.
Common mistakes
- Inventing a person or date.
- Citing a homepage instead of the page.
- Confusing citation format with source quality.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Should I always write “n.d.”?
Only when your style calls for it and no publication date is available.
Is the retrieval date the publication date?
No. It records when you accessed the source.
Can I cite websites at all?
Yes, when relevant and credible under your programme’s rules.