Human authorship,officially witnessed.

It certifies that PenWitness reviewed a specific book, including multiple AI-detector analyses of the whole work and each section, the author's writing-process evidence, and the judgment of at least two qualified independent reviewers, and that the evidence supports human authorship under the PenWitness standard.

Yes, it is official. No government agency or accrediting body oversees human-authorship certification, so there is no such thing as an "accredited" human-authorship seal. PenWitness publishes its own review standard and issues official PenWitness Seals of Human Authorship under it.

A seal is official when PenWitness issues it for a specific verified book: it is dated, bears the book's exact title, is signed, and is matched by a PenWitness record.

An official seal is the PenWitness Human Authorship Verified seal with the verification date stamped into it, the book's exact title in quotation marks and its ISBN beneath it, an authorized signature on the line below, and the line “Records of Verification at penwitness.org.” The seals on this website are samples and do not certify any book. To confirm a seal, request the book's detailed verification record.

You may display your official seal with the certified book: on its cover or copyright page, on your website, in store listings, and in marketing for that book. The seal applies only to the book and edition named on it.

The seal covers the exact version of the book that was reviewed. If the text changes, the new edition needs its own review and its own seal.

No. Each publisher, school, and contest sets its own rules. The seal is independent documentation of human authorship that you can present to them.

Not on their own. Detectors can flag human writing and miss machine writing, and different tools measure different things. That is why PenWitness uses several detectors, examines every section as well as the whole work, keeps each score in its original meaning, and relies on qualified reviewers and writing-process evidence for the decision.

At least two independent reviewers, each with a relevant degree and at least three years of professional experience in editing, writing instruction, research integrity, or forensic linguistics, or documented equivalent competence. If they disagree, a third reviewer decides. Reviewers have no connection to your book, and their pay never depends on the outcome.

A signed authorship declaration, plus whatever shows how the book developed: earlier drafts, native revision or version history (for example, from Word or Google Docs), outlines, and research notes. Reviewers may also ask you to explain how a section took shape.

Spell check, grammar check, formatting, and accessibility tools are allowed when they do not write or substantially rewrite your prose. Human editors, proofreaders, and collaborators are allowed and must be disclosed. AI-generated text, AI paraphrasing, and AI rewriting of substantive prose are not eligible for the seal.

Reviewers look closely at that section's drafts and revision history and may ask for your explanation or more evidence. A flag alone does not decide the outcome, and an unusual writing style alone is never treated as proof of AI use.

Seven business days on average, counted from when your complete materials are received. A review can take longer if reviewers need more evidence from you.

You pay nothing, and no seal is issued. You may appeal by emailing admin@penwitness.org. Appeals are decided by a reviewer who took no part in the original decision.

$15 per 100 pages, charged by the page at 15¢ per page. A 250-page book costs $37.50. A 180-page book costs $27. We confirm your final page count and fee before you pay.

Only after your book is verified. Payment is due before your verification email and custom seal are delivered. If your book is not verified, you pay nothing.

PenWitness emails you a secure payment link. For a record request, the link is sent as soon as you submit your request, and the search begins once payment is received. For a book review, the link is sent once your book is verified. PenWitness never asks for card numbers by email or through its forms.

Yes, when the book is not in PenWitness records: the full $25 is refunded. When the book is in our records, the fee covers the record we send you.

It is PenWitness's record for a certified book: the title, author, reviewed edition, and verification date, with a summary of the detector results and reviewers' findings. It lets anyone confirm that a seal is genuine and belongs to that book.

Use the record request form. Identify the book by title and author, or by ISBN, and give the email address where we should send the record. We then email you a secure payment link for the $25 fee, which is due at the time of request.

We tell you so and refund your $25 in full. It means the book has not been certified by PenWitness. It does not, by itself, mean AI was used to write it.

No. Records contain verification details and a summary of findings. Manuscripts, drafts, and private notes are never shared.

One PDF, DOCX, or TXT file of up to 20 MB with your submission. Drafts and revision history are requested by email after you submit.

Your manuscript is stored privately and is never published. It is accessed only by PenWitness and the reviewers assigned to your book, and it is processed by the AI-detection services used in your analysis. We never sell your manuscript or use it for anything other than your review. See our privacy terms.

Email admin@penwitness.org. Include your reference number if you have one.