Quickie Question about 'Acknowledgments' for Writers

[i_mmmchocolate]

When writing 'acknowledgments', is it customary to notify the acknowledgees (I made this up) beforehand?

I've been googling this question during lunch time with no results.


Anyone?

[Wesley Dodds]

I think: Nope, unless you want to.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I think: Nope, unless you want to.

Yeah, but what if I include someone and don't tell them and then they unexpectedly pick up the Journal and see their name?

Then they angrily confront me and yell, "How DARE you add MY name to your list! I want to remain anonymous to the world, heathen!"

[Dreadstar]

When writing 'acknowledgments', is it customary to notify the acknowledgees (I made this up) beforehand?

Yeah, but what if I include someone and don't tell them and then they unexpectedly pick up the Journal and see their name?

Then they angrily confront me and yell, "How DARE you add MY name to your list! I want to remain anonymous to the world, heathen!"

Doesn't this sort of answer your own question?

Are you ethically/legally required to? I don't know.

Would it be a common courtesy to do so beforehand? Probably.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Doesn't this sort of answer your own question?

Yes, yes it does.


Would it be a common courtesy to do so beforehand? Probably.

I guess the best choice would be to ask.

Thanks for the input!

[K'Nort]

Although if you're confident they'd get a thrill out of it being a surprise, there's nothing wrong with doing that.

[StoneGold]

I agree with K'Nort. People that you know would be cool with it, and you think that it would be cooler as a surprise, let it be a surprise. If you think the person is going to throw a hissy fit, ask first.

[Ray R.]

I'm a legal editor most of the time, and I see no ethical or legal obligation to inform ahead of time those folks you are providing "acknowledgments" to. If you'd like to do so as a courtesy, fine, or if you'd like them to be pleasantly suprised, I think you're fine either way.

I'm sure you know the big issues: that you footnote sources correctly, that you get permission to substantively quote from other copyrighted material, etc. Those issues are where you have ethical and legal obligations.....

Acknowledgements are like pats on the back, and you can handle that any way you feel comfortable with, and either way breathe easy.