Using Clean Copy in PERRLA

The PERRLA Add-in for Word and PERRLA Online both have an I'm Finished! button in their ribbon that lets you create a Clean Copy of your paper before you turn it in.

What is a Clean Copy?

A Clean Copy is a duplicate version of your paper with the exact same content, but with all PERRLA elements like Content Controls stripped out.

When using PERRLA, some elements in your paper are generated inside Content Control boxes – like references and citations. PERRLA uses Content Control boxes for two reasons.

First, they allow PERRLA to track format-specific elements inside your paper so it knows exactly where all your references and citations are. This helps PERRLA format location-specific citations and references correctly.

Second, the text in Content Controls must always be formatted in a specific way for your paper's format. Over the 25+ years we've been helping students, we've seen students accidentally alter their APA, MLA, and Turabian formatting. Locking the text ensures your formatting is always correct for those elements.

Why create a Clean Copy?

Creating a Clean Copy before you turn in your paper has a few benefits. First, removing the Content Controls makes it easier for your professor to leave comments and feedback. Second, it gives you a finalized version of your paper that is separate from your working draft – helpful if you ever accidentally turn in the wrong version. Third, if you plan to make more changes after receiving feedback, having a Clean Copy keeps your working draft separate from the version you submitted.

How to create a Clean Copy

1. Open your PERRLA paper. 
2. In the PERRLA ribbon, click the I'm Finished! icon.
   It's on the right side of the PERRLA ribbon.
3. Click Create a clean copy in the side panel. 

If you're using the desktop version of Microsoft Word, the Clean Copy will open as a new document separate from your original PERRLA paper.

If you're using Word for Web, the Clean Copy will be downloaded to your default folder – usually Downloads.

If you're using PERRLA Online, the Clean Copy will be downloaded to your computer as a Microsoft Word file.

Note: Save your Clean Copy with a different name from your original paper.