These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the website located at https://scripticalediting.com (the “Website”) and the editing services (“Services”) provided by Katrien Curvers, sole proprietor of Scriptical Editing (“I”, “me”, “my”) on the manuscript, document, or other material submitted by the Client for editing (the “Work”). By using the Website or purchasing Services, you (“Client”, “you”, “your”) agree to be legally bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Website or Services.
Applicability of Terms
These Terms govern the contractual relationship between the Client and me in connection with the Services, including future orders and projects unless otherwise agreed in writing. Any deviation from or addition to these Terms is valid only if agreed in writing. Acceptance of a quote or order confirmation constitutes acceptance of these Terms and, to the extent permitted by law, excludes the application of the Client’s own general terms and conditions. Failure to enforce any right under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right. If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect, and the parties shall negotiate in good faith to replace it with a valid provision reflecting the original intent. The pricing and terms of any quote are based on, and conditional upon, the application of these Terms.
Scope of Services
I provide professional academic editing services for life science manuscripts and abstracts for both academic and industry clients, including research groups, laboratories, academic institutions, and companies. Services may include language polishing, clarity and flow improvements, guidance on structural and organizational improvement, formatting according to journal requirements, and final proofreading. I provide deep, substantive language editing, not scientific or content editing. This includes correcting grammar, terminology, and clarity, and revising overstated or overly assertive phrasing into appropriately measured, publication-standard language. I do not verify, fact-check, or systematically assess whether the manuscript’s data, methodology, or results support its stated conclusions—this remains the responsibility of the author(s). Services are delivered only upon explicit order and acceptance of a quote, and deadlines will be confirmed in writing. All Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, with reasonable effort to meet quality standards, but outcomes such as publication acceptance, grades, or funding approval are not guaranteed. Quotes are valid for thirty (30) days from the date issued, unless stated otherwise.
Payment, Turnaround Time, and Commencement of Services
The minimum fee for any project to account for administrative work required for every submission is as stated on the services page. For new clients, a deposit of fifty percent (50%) of the total quoted fee is required before work begins. The remaining balance is due upon delivery of the edited manuscript. Work will commence only after the Service Agreement has been agreed in writing and the required deposit has been received.
Quoted turnaround times are calculated from the date on which the deposit is received and all required materials and instructions have been supplied, and are estimates based on manuscript length, complexity, and availability at the time of booking. Delays in payment, incomplete submission of materials, or changes to the agreed scope of work may result in adjusted timelines. Priority or expedited services may be offered subject to availability and may incur a surcharge as specified on the Website; expedited timelines are likewise contingent upon receipt of the required deposit. Invoices are payable within the timeframe stated on the invoice, and late payments may result in delayed delivery of the final manuscript.
Institutional, corporate, or repeat clients (including universities, research institutes, and biotech or industry clients) may be granted alternative payment terms at my discretion, agreed in writing in advance. In such cases, work may commence prior to receipt of payment, and the agreed turnaround time begins upon receipt of the manuscript instead of upon receipt of the deposit.
If an invoice remains unpaid after the due date stated on the invoice, I reserve the right to charge statutory interest and any compensation permitted under applicable law. I also reserve the right to suspend work on any ongoing or future projects for the Client, and to decline new orders, until the outstanding balance has been paid in full.
Client Responsibilities
Clients must submit accurate, complete, and original Work. Manuscripts should be in final or near-final draft form; I do not accept first drafts containing extensive spelling, grammar, or formatting errors. Work should be organized and free of excessive typos so that editing can focus on clarity, structure, presentation, and style. The Client is responsible for ensuring their content complies with applicable laws and institutional guidelines, does not infringe third-party rights, and is ethically and legally sound. The Client is solely responsible for the (scientific) content; I do not verify, fact-check, or systematically assess whether the manuscript’s data, methodology, or results support its stated conclusions. The Client agrees to review delivered work promptly and report any issues or requests for revision within fourteen (14) days. The Client indemnifies me against any third-party claims arising from the content of the Work, including claims of plagiarism or infringement of intellectual property rights.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
I permit the use of large language models (LLMs) and other generative AI tools in the preparation of the Work insofar as it is ethical and in line with the publisher’s policy regarding the use of AI. A manuscript will not be declined solely because it was drafted with the assistance of such tools, provided the manuscript is based on original research and real data. The Client remains solely responsible for ensuring that the Work, including any content produced with the assistance of generative AI, complies with the target journal’s or publisher’s policies on AI usage and disclosure; my acceptance of the Work for editing does not constitute confirmation of such compliance. The Client is encouraged to disclose the use of generative AI at the outset of the engagement. I will not knowingly accept or continue editing any Work where the use of generative AI or LLMs is unethical, in violation of the target journal’s or publisher’s requirements, or otherwise inconsistent with accepted standards of academic integrity.
Client Remedies for Significant Delay
If I am unable to deliver the Work within the agreed turnaround time for reasons within my reasonable control, I will inform the Client as soon as reasonably practicable. If the Work remains undelivered for more than fourteen (14) days after the Client has notified me in writing of the delay, the Client may terminate the affected Service by written notice. In such case, the Client will be refunded any fees paid for work that has not yet been performed, while fees relating to work already completed will remain due.
Pricing and Revisions
All Services are priced as listed on the Website or as specified in a written quote. The quoted fee includes the initial editing round and one (1) round of revisions, provided the revised manuscript is returned within two (2) weeks of delivery. Revisions requested between two (2) weeks and two (2) months after delivery are charged as follows: minor revisions at twenty-five percent (25%) of the original quoted fee, and major revisions at fifty percent (50%) of the original quoted fee. Revision requests submitted more than two (2) months after delivery, or revisions involving substantial new content (for example, extensive changes made in response to peer review), will be treated as a new submission and billed at the applicable full rate.
Rush, expedited, or same-day services may incur additional charges, as indicated on the Website or specified in the quote. Fees are non-refundable once the editing work has commenced or has been delivered in accordance with the agreed scope of work. At my discretion, goodwill considerations may be extended to long-term or premium clients; however, such considerations are not guaranteed and do not constitute a waiver of these Terms.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
All personal information is treated as strictly confidential and will not be shared with third parties except as required for service delivery, such as payment processors. Client data is processed in compliance with GDPR for EU clients and other applicable privacy regulations. All manuscripts and client communications are treated as strictly confidential. Documents are exchanged via encrypted email and, where appropriate, secure file transfer methods. Files are stored only on a password-protected, encrypted device and are not shared with third parties. Reasonable technical and organizational measures are in place to protect data against unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure. Clients remain responsible for safeguarding their own devices and credentials.
As an exception to the above, I may publish reviews, testimonials, or feedback shared by the Client about my Services on the Website or in marketing materials, using the Client’s name and/or affiliation unless the Client requests otherwise. This exception applies only to feedback about the Services themselves and never extends to manuscript content, data, or other confidential information.
Client data and personal information are processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws and my Privacy Policy, available on the Website.
Intellectual Property
Clients retain all intellectual property rights in their submitted Work. I do not claim ownership or copyright over the content. Editing changes, comments, and suggestions remain the property of Scriptical Editing solely for providing the agreed Services, but this does not affect the Client’s ownership of the underlying content.
Downloadable materials provided on the Website (such as guides, ebooks, or editing samples) are for the Client’s or visitor’s personal, non-commercial use only and may not be redistributed, resold, or repurposed without my written permission. The editing sample provided on the Website illustrates my editing approach and does not represent a specific client’s Work. The self-assessment tool available on the Website is provided for informational purposes only; results are indicative and do not constitute a professional manuscript evaluation or guarantee of publication readiness.
Cancellations
If a project is canceled before work has commenced, any deposit is non-refundable, to cover the reserved time slot and preparatory (administrative) work, but no further fees apply. If a project is canceled after work has commenced, fees for work already performed will be charged proportionally. Refunds are not provided for Services delivered according to the agreed scope. Clients should confirm project details carefully to avoid misunderstandings.
Limitation of Liability
While I strive to provide high-quality Services, I do not guarantee journal acceptance, funding approval, or specific outcomes. I am not responsible for errors, omissions, or content outside the scope of Services, including the scientific or factual accuracy of the underlying Work.
The Client remains responsible for reviewing the edited Work and for any changes made to it after delivery. I am not responsible for errors, language issues, or other problems introduced or reintroduced by the Client or any third party after delivery. I am also not responsible for any comments or concerns raised by a journal or peer reviewers in relation to such changes. The included revision round gives the Client the opportunity to have such changes reviewed before submission.
If the Client identifies an error in the Work that was introduced by me during the provision of the Services, the Client must notify me in writing within fourteen (14) days of discovering the error. I will correct the error at no additional charge. Any liability claim against me expires one (1) year after completion of the relevant Service.
The Services concern the language, clarity, structure, organisation, and presentation of the Client’s Work within the agreed scope. I am not responsible for scientific or content-related issues, including the accuracy, completeness, validity, interpretation, originality, novelty, scientific reasoning, or substantive redundancy of the research or its conclusions. Accordingly, comments, criticisms, or requested changes from journals or peer reviewers relating to such matters do not in themselves constitute an error or deficiency in the Services.
Except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence, liability for any claim arising from or in connection with the Services is limited to the total fees paid for that specific Service, and I am not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including loss of income, reputation, or opportunity. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law.
Force Majeure
I shall not be held liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control, including illness or incapacity, natural disasters, power or internet outages, or other unforeseen events. If such circumstances prevent performance of the Services for more than thirty (30) days, either party may terminate the affected project by written notice. In that case, the Client will be refunded any fees paid for work not yet performed, while fees for work already completed will remain due.
Termination
Either party may terminate the service arrangement if the other materially breaches these Terms and fails to remedy the breach within fourteen (14) days of receiving written notice specifying the breach. Upon termination, the Client remains responsible for payment for Services already performed.
Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of Belgium and applicable EU regulations, including GDPR. Any disputes arising from the Services or the interpretation of these Terms shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the judicial district in which my business is registered. Clients agree to seek amicable resolution before pursuing formal legal action.
Amendments
I may update these Terms from time to time. Updated Terms will be posted on the Website with a revised “Last Updated” date and will apply to new orders and projects agreed after the updated Terms have been published.
Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with any service order or engagement agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the Client and me and supersede all prior understandings. Any oral statements or assurances not included in these Terms are not binding. Exceptions or amendments must be agreed in writing.
Contact
If you have questions regarding these Terms, contact: katrien@scripticalediting.com
Last Updated: January 2026