How to remove identifying properties from a Microsoft Word file before submitting it.

If your professor is using anonymous grading, you should include only your identification number on your submissions. Please ensure that your name does not appear on the face of your work or in the file properties embedded within your submission. To remove identifying properties from a Microsoft® Word file, please follow these steps before submitting your work:

Microsoft Word 2010 and 2013 for Windows

  1. Go to “file”
  2. Select “info”
  3. Click on “check for issues”
  4. Click on “inspect document”
  5. In the "Document Inspector" dialog box, select the check boxes to choose the types of hidden content that you want to be inspected.
  6. Click "Remove All"
  7. Click "Close"
  8. Save the document

Microsoft Word for macOS

For the latest version of Word (2015/2016)

  1. Go to the Review tab
  2. Click the Protect Document tool
  3. Click Remove personal information from this file on save

For older versions

  1. Go to Preferences
  2. Click on Security
  3. Select “Remove personally identifiable information from the file on save” and “Warn before printing, saving or sending a document that contains tracked changes or comments”.

Note: It may work to simply set Word 2008 on the mac to “remove personal information from this file on save” under Preferences in the Word menu, Personal Settings, Security, Privacy options. If you only wish to enforce the security measure on a final save it may be sufficient to select the “Warn before printing, saving, or sending a file that contains tracked changes or comments” check box.