A professional medical writer will eventually, at some point, need to edit documents in PDF. Did you know that the majority of PDF files are actually editable? Depending on their functionality and how they were created. most PDF documents aren’t locked down like an uneditable Word document. Instead, you can open and edit a PDF from your computer. No, you do not need to print it out again or hand-edit it with a red pen.
Many people don’t realize this because there are so many programs out there that seem only to be able to output PDFs instead of reading them! Thankfully, editing a document as a PDF is much easier than making one from scratch. Here are six ways you can edit a PDF in minutes.
Edit documents in PDF – Overview
- PDF documents to Word
- Google docs
- PDF to Word online converter
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Previewing in Browser-based Editing Tool
- Edit documents in PDF – Summing up
In Previous Articles
- In-text Referencing in Scientific Writing
- Referencing a Website Harvard Style
- How To Write a Literature Review: A Step-By-Step Guide
- 5 Ways to Turn Your Job Interview “Weaknesses” Into Strengths
- Referencing a Book Harvard Style: Tips for Every Writer
PDF Document to Word
One of the best ways to edit documents in PDF is to open it in an editing program and then save it as a Word document. This way, all of your original formatting and visual elements will stay intact. Moreover, you’ll be able to edit it as if it were a regular document.
Note that this is only possible if you have a desktop version of Microsoft Word. It may not work with online versions. This is because the online version of Word doesn’t have the same types of editing capabilities that the desktop version does.
If you have a Mac computer, you can open PDF documents with Preview. Preview is included with Mac computers, so it’s pre-installed and usually accessible from Launchpad. You can open PDF documents right in the app and then select the “Export” option to save the document as a Word file.
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free word processor that allows you to create and edit documents in your browser. While you cannot open a PDF directly in Google Docs, you can upload your PDF to Google Docs as a separate file and then edit it there. Google Docs can be a great option if you need to collaborate on a document. You’ll be able to see who else is working on the document, make comments, and add revisions to it.
You can also share your document with others, so they can view, edit, or comment on it. However, they will not be able to upload their own copies of the document.
PDF to Word Online Converter
If you have a PDF file that you need to edit, you can use a tool like PDF to Word Online Converter. It enables you to convert your PDF to a Word document online. Many online converters can be hit-or-miss. Therefore, so it’s a good idea to try a few different ones to find out which one works best for you.
What To Look For In An Online Converter
- A free option with little to no limitations – no watermarks or limitations on file size.
- The option to download the converted file. This is helpful if you want to edit the PDF on your laptop instead.
- Whether or not you can edit the converted document – some sites force you to download the document first.
- The quality of the converted file – it’s best to use a site that uses optical character recognition (OCR).
- The site’s ease of use – a clunky website with bad design is usually a bad sign.
- The site’s security – is it legitimate? Is it safe to use your information?
- The site’s customer service – if something goes wrong, will they help you out?
Edit documents in PDF with Microsoft Office
If you have Microsoft Office installed on your computer, you can open a PDF document and edit it in Word. This method is helpful if you have a document that you want to add to or change slightly, but don’t want to create a new file from scratch. This can also be helpful if you have a client or colleague send you a document and you want to make a few small changes to it before you return it.
One thing to note is that if you open a PDF document in Word from a Windows computer, the formatting and design of the document will be retained. If you open it from a Mac computer, the formatting will be altered to look more like a Word document.
Edit documents in PDF with Adobe Acrobat Pro
If you use Adobe Acrobat Pro and have a PDF you need to edit, you can open it directly in Acrobat Pro. You can then edit the document and save it as a new PDF once done so that your original PDF remains unchanged. It’s helpful to use Acrobat Pro if you need to edit a PDF that has strict security settings or uses features like watermarks or image stamps. Acrobat Pro gives you more control over these elements than a regular PDF reader.
Previewing in Browser-based Editing Tool
Many PDF editing tools allow you to edit PDFs online, so you don’t have to install any software on your computer. These browser-based tools are similar to online converters, but they are often easier to use and provide more features.
Summing up
If you have a document in PDF format, the best way to edit it is to open it in an editing program and then save it as a Word document. If you have Microsoft Office, you can open a PDF in Word directly from there. You can also use a browser-based PDF editing tool to edit the document online.
