Frequently Asked Questions

What is KERNIT?
KERNIT is an academic paper formatter. It takes your manuscript — as Markdown, plain text, or an uploaded DOCX — and reformats it to match the exact style requirements of a target journal. It exports the result as a journal-ready DOCX, LaTeX source, or HTML file.
Does KERNIT upload my manuscript to a server?
No. All formatting is done in-browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device. Nothing is sent to a server during formatting or export.
Which journals does KERNIT support?
KERNIT supports IEEE, APA, Nature, Elsevier, ACS, Springer, PLOS ONE, Lancet, and JAMA. See the Journal Presets page for details on each preset.
What input formats does KERNIT accept?
KERNIT accepts Markdown, plain text, and uploaded DOCX files. See the Getting Started page for instructions on each input method.
What export formats does KERNIT support?
KERNIT exports to DOCX (Microsoft Word), LaTeX (.tex), and HTML. See the Export Formats page for details on each format.
Do I need an account to use KERNIT?
No account is required for free trial exports. An account is required for paid plans so KERNIT can track your credit usage and manage your subscription.
What are credits?
Each export uses one credit. Paid plans include a fixed number of credits per month (15 for Starter, 35 for Pro, 70 for Max on annual). See the Pricing page for details.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes. You can cancel at any time from your account settings. Credits already used are non-refundable, but you keep access to your plan until the end of the current billing period.
Does KERNIT work on mobile?
The formatter works on tablets and large-screen phones. For detailed manuscript work — especially with equations, tables, and multi-column layouts — a desktop or laptop is recommended.
What browsers does KERNIT support?
KERNIT works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — all modern evergreen browsers. Internet Explorer is not supported.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
You can report bugs or request features by emailing [email protected]. Include a description of the issue, the journal preset you were using, and the export format if relevant.
Is KERNIT open source?
The formatting engine is proprietary. The documentation site is open source and available on GitHub.
Last updated: March 2026