Required Software 

There are many different versions of Microsoft Word out there, and we want our employees to use the most current software possible. We require our editors to use Microsoft Word 2016, Word 2019, or Word 365 to avoid compatibility issues (this holds for other Microsoft Office products, too, such as PowerPoint or Excel). While Word 2007, 2010, and 2013 will open .docx files, we've faced fewer compatibility issues with clients (particularly with the Track Changes function in Word) when using Word 2016 or later. Word 2013 and older versions are no longer supported by Microsoft, and the Scribendi AI requires Word 2016 or later to function properly. In addition, Word 2016 and later versions are backwards compatible with file types created by all previous versions of Word. We have clear instructions for dealing with all the various file types in the Scribendi - File Type Handling Guide, which is located in the Guidebooks tab in EditorWorks. 

So, please make sure you are using Word 2016 or later. In addition, if you are considering what version to purchase, please be aware that Microsoft tends to phase out support for Word software after about 10 years, which means that Scribendi requirements will also then shift. It would be prudent to purchase Word 2019 or Word 365 now rather than purchase Word 2016 and then have to buy a later version in 2026 (which is when Microsoft will likely discontinue support for Word 2016). 

Software to Avoid

It is Scribendi’s duty to keep our clients’ documents private and secure. We promise clients their orders are stored securely and are accessible only to editors who have signed a confidentiality agreement. Therefore, it is a breach of our contract to send client data to external companies, such as Grammarly or PerfectIt. 

Grammarly’s privacy policy FAQ states that they collect user content, which “consists of all text, documents, or other content or information uploaded, entered, or otherwise transmitted by you in connection with your use of the Services and/or Software.” Using Grammarly’s services to edit client documents therefore violates Scribendi’s privacy policy.

PerfectIt software does not collect and store user content. However, PerfectIt’s cloud-based service does transmit documents to a server; their privacy policy states, “If you use the PerfectIt Cloud service, your documents are transmitted to a server temporarily.” It is acceptable to use PerfectIt software but not its cloud-based service, which is the version available through Microsoft Office. 

Scribendi editors must refrain from using Grammarly, PerfectIt’s cloud-based service, or any other third-party service that collects or stores user data to edit Scribendi documents. Although we understand this may be an inconvenience, we are making constant improvements to the Scribendi AI and Grammar Check to help streamline your editing processes and ensure consistency. Please use these programs and send us any feedback that would make the tools more useful for you. 

Last Updated: 09/09/2022