Effective date: 22 September 2026
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) explain how I provide my editing services and what you can expect when working with me. When we work together, the specific terms are set out in a signed retainer agreement between us.
I work on an annual retainer, which covers editing the English in the following corporate materials:
All materials within this scope are covered by the retainer fee, regardless of how many items you send to me for editing. There is no charge per item.
My edits focus on clarity, tone, flow, and natural-sounding English by correcting errors in spelling and grammar and fixing awkward phrasing. I also identify errors and inconsistencies in numbers, dates, and labels where these are apparent from the materials themselves. The retainer does not include translation or content creation, and I do not independently verify the accuracy of any numbers or statements in your materials.
Anything not listed in Section 1 falls outside the retainer. This includes:
Work outside the retainer is accepted at my discretion and subject to availability. If I agree to take it on, I will provide a written quote. Work begins once you accept the quote by email.
The annual retainer fee covers all materials within the scope of Section 1 for the full twelve-month period.
The fee is invoiced before the retainer period begins and is payable within 14 days of the invoice date. Payment is made by bank transfer to the account details provided on the invoice.
No Australian goods and services tax (GST) is charged on my fees. Any VAT or similar tax due in your country is accounted for by you under the reverse-charge mechanism.
The retainer runs for twelve months. It can be renewed for another twelve months if we both agree to the renewal by email before the term's end date. Renewals can continue on the same basis each year.
The first three months of the retainer are a minimum commitment. This gives you enough time to see the value of the service across a range of your materials, rather than judging it on the first few items I edit for you.
You may cancel within those first three months by notifying me in writing at matthew@clearstyleenglish.com. If you cancel within that period, I will issue you a refund equivalent to 75% of the retainer fee within 14 days of receiving your cancellation email. I will continue to edit your materials until the end of the three-month period. This cancellation option applies to your first retainer period only, not to renewals.
After the first three months, refunds are no longer available — except in the case of extended incapacity described below.
Extended incapacity: if I am unable to provide services for a continuous period of more than four weeks (for example, due to serious illness or injury), I will provide a pro rata refund of the retainer fee corresponding to the full period of unavailability.
All materials you provide are treated as strictly confidential and are accessed only by me. I do not use subcontractors, and I do not share or discuss your materials with any third party.
I understand that unpublished reports and announcements may constitute inside information, and I will not disclose it or trade on it. Where required, I can be added to your insider list and will acknowledge the associated obligations in writing. I will also sign your non-disclosure agreement on request, or can provide my own pre-signed NDA.
These obligations continue after the retainer ends.
I confirm turnaround for each item when it is submitted. Typical turnaround times for key materials are as follows:
These timeframes are a guide only and are not guaranteed, as turnaround depends on the length and complexity of each item.
Because materials often arrive around reporting deadlines, please send items with as much notice as possible so I can prioritise appropriately.
My working hours are set out in each retainer agreement. The guide for turnaround timeframes refers to these working hours only. For example, “within a few hours” means within a few of my working hours, and “around two business days” means around two of my working days. Evenings, weekends, and other time outside my working hours are not included, and anything sent outside my working hours is treated as arriving at the start of my next working day.
If something is genuinely urgent, whether it needs a faster turnaround or work outside my usual hours, let me know and I’ll tell you promptly whether I can accommodate it.
I take up to 20 business days of annual leave each calendar year. I am not available for work during my annual leave. I typically split these days into smaller blocks throughout the year rather than taking them all at once. I give you at least four weeks’ notice via email before each period of leave. I check your financial calendar and schedule my leave outside your busy reporting periods so deadlines for interim and annual reports, investor presentations, and AGM materials remain unaffected.
You are responsible for ensuring all materials you provide are accurate, lawful, and original. You are also responsible for reviewing the edited materials before publication, and for ensuring the final published version reflects your intended meaning and complies with your legal and regulatory obligations.
You retain full ownership of all materials you send to me for editing. You also retain full ownership of the edited versions I return to you. I claim no ownership or intellectual property rights over either, at any time.
While I take great care to provide accurate and professional work, I am not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, cost, or damage arising from the use of edited materials. My total liability is limited to the retainer fee paid.
These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia, and any disputes will be subject to its courts.
These Terms may be updated occasionally. The most recent version will always appear on this page with a new effective date. Changes do not affect retainers already in progress.