LaTeX Manuscript Anonymization Guide

One Source File, Two Versions — Streamline Your Academic Submission Workflow

Master the art of creating anonymized manuscripts for peer review using LaTeX conditional statements. One source file, two versions — streamline your academic submission workflow with elegant toggle mechanisms.

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The Toggle Mechanism

The anonymization system uses a simple boolean toggle that controls what content appears in your final PDF:

\documentclass[preprint,12pt]{elsarticle}

% === Toggle for anonymized version ===
\newif\ifanon
\anonfalse     % Produces title page with author info
% \anontrue    % Produces anonymized manuscript

TipKey Concept

By commenting/uncommenting just one line (\anonfalse or \anontrue), you can switch between complete author information and fully anonymized versions.

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Document Structure Overview

\begin{document}
\begin{frontmatter}

\title{An Example Paper Title}

\ifanon
    % --- Anonymized: no authors ---
\else
    % --- Full title page ---
    \author[1]{Alice Smith}
    \author[2]{Bob Johnson}
    \address[1]{Department of Physics, University A, City, Country}
    \address[2]{Department of Mathematics, University B, City, Country}
    \cortext[cor1]{Corresponding author}
    \ead{alice.smith@university.edu}
\fi

\begin{abstract}
This is the abstract placeholder.
\end{abstract}

\begin{keyword}
Keyword1 \sep Keyword2 \sep Keyword3
\end{keyword}

\end{frontmatter}

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How the Toggle Works

Version	Toggle Setting	What Appears
Full Author Version	\anonfalse	Authors, Affiliations, Email, Abstract, Keywords
Anonymized Version	\anontrue	Abstract, Keywords only (authors hidden)

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Main Content Sections

The example also shows how to conditionally include main content sections:

% === Main manuscript sections ===
\ifanon

\section{Introduction}
This is the introduction text.

\section{Methods}
Methodology details here.

\section{Results}
Results go here.

\section{Discussion}
Discussion text here.

\fi

WarningNote

In this example, the main sections only appear in the anonymized version. You might want to modify this logic based on your specific submission requirements.

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Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Set up the toggle

Add the toggle mechanism at the top of your document:

\newif\ifanon
\anonfalse  % Change to \anontrue for anonymous version

Step 2: Conditional author information

Wrap author details in the conditional block:

\ifanon
    % Leave empty or add placeholder
\else
    \author[1]{Your Name}
    \address[1]{Your Institution}
    \ead{your.email@institution.edu}
\fi

Step 3: Switch versions

To create an anonymized version:

• Change \anonfalse to \anontrue
• Recompile your LaTeX document
• The PDF will now exclude all author information

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Advanced Anonymization Techniques

Conditional Text in Body

In our previous work \ifanon [Reference Hidden] \else \citep{Smith2023} \fi, we demonstrated...

Conditional Acknowledgments

\ifanon
    % No acknowledgments in anonymous version
\else
    \section*{Acknowledgments}
    We thank our colleagues for their valuable feedback.
\fi

Conditional Funding Information

\ifanon
    % No funding info in anonymous version
\else
    \section*{Funding}
    This work was supported by Grant XYZ-123.
\fi

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Best Practices

Test Both Versions

Always compile and review both anonymized and full versions before submission to catch any formatting issues.

Remove Identifying Citations

Consider hiding self-citations in the anonymized version to maintain reviewer blindness.

Check Acknowledgments

Funding and acknowledgment sections often reveal author identity and should be conditionally hidden.

Review Figures

Ensure figure captions do not contain identifying information like institutional logos or names.

Institutional References

Be careful about references to “our institution” or similar identifying language in the text.

Contact Information

Double-check that email addresses and phone numbers are properly hidden in anonymous mode.

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Quick Reference Summary

NoteSummary

• Use \newif\ifanon to create a boolean toggle for anonymization
• Set \anonfalse for full author version, \anontrue for anonymous
• Wrap author information in \ifanon...\else...\fi blocks
• Single source file produces both submission versions
• Always test both versions before submitting to journals
• Consider additional identifying content beyond just author names
• Use conditional blocks for acknowledgments, funding, and self-citations
• Review all content that might reveal author identity

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Complete Template Example

\documentclass[preprint,12pt]{elsarticle}

% === Toggle for anonymized version ===
\newif\ifanon
\anonfalse     % Change to \anontrue for anonymous version

\begin{document}
\begin{frontmatter}

\title{Your Paper Title Here}

\ifanon
    % Anonymized version - no author info
\else
    % Full version with author info
    \author[1]{First Author\corref{cor1}}
    \author[2]{Second Author}
    \address[1]{Department, University A, City, Country}
    \address[2]{Department, University B, City, Country}
    \cortext[cor1]{Corresponding author}
    \ead{first.author@university.edu}
\fi

\begin{abstract}
Your abstract text here.
\end{abstract}

\begin{keyword}
Keyword1 \sep Keyword2 \sep Keyword3
\end{keyword}

\end{frontmatter}

\section{Introduction}
Introduction text...

\section{Methods}
Methods text...

\section{Results}
Results text...

\section{Discussion}
Discussion text...

\section{Conclusion}
Conclusion text...

\ifanon
    % No acknowledgments in anonymous version
\else
    \section*{Acknowledgments}
    Acknowledgment text here.
    
    \section*{Funding}
    Funding information here.
\fi

\bibliographystyle{elsarticle-num}
\bibliography{references}

\end{document}