How to ensure all files are anonymized

To ensure the integrity of blind peer review for submissions to this publisher, every effort should be made to prevent the identities of authors and reviewers from being known to each other. This involves authors, editors, and reviewers who upload documents as part of the review process checking that the following measures have been taken regarding the text and file properties:

  • The authors of the document should remove their names from the text, using the term "Author" and the year in references and footnotes instead of the authors' names, article title, etc.
  • The authors of the document should remove personal information from the file properties by following the steps below:
  • Microsoft Word 365 for Windows:
    • Go to File.
    • Select Info.
    • Click Check for Issues.
    • Click Inspect Document.
    • In the Document Inspector dialog box, select the checkboxes for the type of hidden content you want to inspect.
    • Click Inspect.
    • Under Document Properties and Personal Information, click Remove All.
    • Click Close.
    • Save the document.
  • Microsoft Word for macOS:
    • Go to Tools.
    • Click Protect Document.
    • Select Remove personal information from this file on save.
    • Click OK and save the file.
  • PDF:
    • In PDF files, author names should also be removed from the Document Properties, found under the File option in the main Adobe Acrobat menu.
    • Go to File.
    • Select Properties.
    • Remove any name from the Author field.
    • Click OK.
    • Save the document.