The End of Anonymization: How Scribendi's New Policy Is Changing Editor-Client Relationships

Picture the following scenario: You're preparing to submit your dissertation after a thorough edit by one of Scribendi's professional editors. In the interests of transparency and authenticity, your committee requires you to include the name of anyone who edited your work in your acknowledgments section.

However, for years, Scribendi's editors had anonymized their work, leaving their names a mystery to our clients.

In June 2025, that changed: Scribendi's editors are now free to use their full names when editing documents. In this blog post, we'll discuss Scribendi's original anonymization policy, why we felt a change was necessary, and what this means going forward for our clients and our editors.

Scribendi's Original Anonymization Policy

Editorial anonymization had been one of Scribendi's oldest policies. Prior to last summer, all editors working for Scribendi were required to conceal their real names by using a simple period as their editor identity in documents.

This policy was intended to protect our editors' identities and information and reflect our commitment to a consistent editing experience. Notably, Scribendi still allowed clients to request editors they had previously worked with. Each editor at Scribendi has an editor code (in the format of "EM####"). When placing their next order, clients could insert the editor code to request a specific editor. This enabled our clients to ensure continuity in their revisions and work with editors who could reference their past documents.

The editor codes provided the best of both worlds. Editors could remain anonymous, but clients could still request and develop a rapport with a certain editor. So why, after years of adhering to this approach, did Scribendi end its anonymization policy?

Why We Changed It

Scribendi's retirement of its anonymization policy was a result of two distinct pressures:

Changes in the Industry

First, generative AI tools are increasingly being used at various stages of the writing process—including editing (though AI cannot replace the value of an expert human editor engaged with your manuscript). As AI becomes more common, there has been concern in academia and the publishing industry both about the risks associated with its use and about the authenticity of published works.

For that reason, there is growing demand for transparency regarding who has completed each aspect of a work, whether for a doctoral thesis or a scientific journal article. Academic and research institutions are placing a heavy emphasis on tracking all those who have contributed to a text and to what extent they have done so.

As a result, our clients sometimes have to acknowledge any editors who have worked on their document by name. With Scribendi's old anonymization system, this was not possible. Moreover, in the wake of AI, being greeted by a simple string of numbers may reduce clients' trust in our own authenticity, possibly stoking concerns that generative AI was used to handle their document. These issues were clear signs that the policy was becoming outdated.

Editor Requests

The second pressure arose from Scribendi's editors themselves. Over the course of recent years, our editors expressed a consistent desire to end the anonymization policy.

Just as our clients may feel less trust in an anonymous number rather than a real human name, some of our editors felt that the old system placed less emphasis on their identities as human professionals. Our editors reflect a wide pool of experts with a diverse range of backgrounds, skills, and experiences. In addition, providing one's name can help establish a connection with a client. With real names visible, engaging in the editing process feels more like a collaboration between two people and less like delivering a product.

Our editors share a commitment to expert review, and our new policy makes it easier to see the individuals supporting that standard.

Scribendi's New Policy

As a result of the above factors, Scribendi decided to end its anonymization policy once and for all. Since last summer, editors have been free to use their full names in documents and their editor notes.

Scribendi has also encouraged our editors to use their real names rather than any business monikers. With authenticity being so crucial, we feel that it is important that our clients will be able to trust that they are interacting with a real person, and not a fake identity or a disguised machine.

Notably, under the new policy, editors concerned about privacy are still able to opt out of using their names. This way, editors have full control over the transparency of their personal information in the editing process.

What This Means

Going forward, Scribendi's new policy means that our clients will be able to clearly see that their work has been performed by a real human editor. This will mean not only an enhanced sense of trust and authenticity but also greater convenience for clients and opportunities for deeper, stronger, editor-client relationships.

For example, if you're a researcher making the final revisions for your soon-to-be-published journal article, there's a good chance the journal will require you to acknowledge any editing. Now, instead of simply acknowledging a company or a number, you can name your editor directly, clearing up any concerns reviewers may have about the validity of the editing.

When you send a manuscript to Scribendi, you're not just getting an edit—you're getting a reviewer's perspective before real reviewers evaluate the work. That's what Scribendi's editors have always worked to deliver, and now you'll know exactly who you're collaborating with.

Know how your manuscript will be read