Keep the three clocks separate
Neo's September 2025 opening release describes an event as well as earlier operating and qualification activity. The publication date alone cannot stand in for every milestone mentioned within a company announcement.
For each finding, retain the source publication date, the effective or event date if stated and your research review date. If the event date is not given, leave it unknown rather than copying the publication date into the field. A newly accessed source can contain an old operating fact.
Use the right date for the question
A production comparison needs the period the output covers. An ownership timeline needs transaction effectiveness. A construction review needs the date or period of the reported work. Those dates can differ even within the same document, so attach them to the particular claim rather than only the source record.
When a later source repeats an earlier milestone, do not count it as a second event. Look for a changed fact, not just a new page timestamp. Preserve the later source when it adds corroboration or detail, but keep the underlying event identity stable.
An illustrative timing error
A September release reports a June shipment and an August agreement. A timeline containing two September events would distort the sequence relevant to a customer review. Record the June and August events with the September publication supporting both. If a date is approximate, retain that precision rather than inventing an exact day for a cleaner chart.
Three dates to retain
| Date | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Event or effective | When the reported change occurred |
| Publication | When the source disclosed it |
| Review | When the research was checked |
Your review checklist
- Attach dates to individual claims.
- Keep reporting periods separate from publication.
- Do not create events from repeated coverage.
- Preserve approximate or unknown dates.
Investigate with Oreline
Oreline’s dated sources and evidence help your team inspect the chronology behind a development. Use that context to determine whether an update changes the supply picture or simply repeats an established milestone.
Follow the evidence through the supply chain.
Explore Oreline’s guided investigations. No account required.
Explore the sandbox →Frequently asked questions
Is the newest source always evidence of the newest event?
No. A recent publication can describe an older event or reporting period.
Should an unknown event date be estimated?
Only as an explicitly labelled analytical assumption when useful; do not present it as a sourced date.