To ensure the integrity of the anonymous peer-review process, every effort should be made to prevent authors and reviewers from knowing each other’s identities. Authors should verify that the following steps have been completed before submitting their manuscript:

1. Remove author names from the manuscript.

Ensure that all author names and identifying information have been removed from the text.

2. Anonymize citations and references.

Where necessary, replace author names, article titles, and other identifying details in citations, references, and footnotes with “Author” and the publication year.
Remove all comments, tracked changes, and other revision marks from the document.

3. Remove personal information from the document properties.

     Microsoft Word for Windows

• • Select File > Info.
• • Click Check for Issues.
• • Select Inspect Document.
• • In the Document Inspector dialog box, select the check boxes for the types of hidden content you want to inspect.
• • Click Remove All beside any personal information or hidden content that is identified.
• • Click Close.
• • Save the document.

     Microsoft Word for macOS

• • Select Tools > Protect Document.
• • Check Remove personal information from this file on save.
• • Click OK.
• • Save the document.