Updated October 2021
How can I write on PDF? It’s the same question every other person who visits this page has. It’s understandable, especially when you have an urgent need to add some text to the PDF document but don’t know how to do it.
PDF remains one of the most helpful tools for presenting text and documents in an easy-to-read format. It helps to organize the contents of documents in a way that’s easy on the eyes.
Online PDF Editor for Mac & Windows. Each user knows that it takes a lot of time to find the appropriate freeware for their operating system. After the search, you should install it on your computer without the clear certainty that it’s secure and doesn’t contain viruses. Online PDF Editor for Mac & Windows. Each user knows that it takes a lot of time to find the appropriate freeware for their operating system. After the search, you should install it on your computer without the clear certainty that it’s secure and doesn’t contain viruses. PDF documents are easy to open in any computing system and can be shared conveniently as email attachments. The document management of the best free PDF reader software provides other add-ons such as highlighting tools, collaboration features, conversion system and other mechanisms for a friendly user experience. On the other hand, most cheap/free PDF editors or PDF modifiers only include the most basic features and don't promise an accurate file conversion. DocFly offers another alternative for users. With our online PDF Editor software, you can edit PDF documents in the cloud.
PDF also helps to preserve the structure of the content of a document across all devices. In PDF format, viewers will see the same layout format for the contents of a document regardless of their viewing device.
It can be a bit tricky whenever you have to write on a PDF document. Sometimes, it feels easier to convert the document to a different file format and effect the necessary edits.
PDFelement for Android. PDFelement for Android is the best free google app to write on PDF.
But that process is quite unnecessary, and you risk disrupting the content layout of the document. No cause for worry; writing on a PDF document is not rocket science, and we’ll look into how you can go about it shortly.
Why You May Need To Write on PDF Documents
Here’s a relatable story. You have text content that’s only available in PDF format. While reading through the text, you notice a few mistakes that need corrections before the work project is due.
The above is just one of the many scenarios where a PDF editor is useful. Below are other use cases where how to write on a PDF document becomes must-know information:
Filling PDF Forms
PDF forms have become increasingly popular in recent times. With increasing digitalization, activities such as form completion are finding their way to the digital space.
You can do pretty much anything via your computer, iPhone or iPad. You can fill a form via those devices the same way you’ll fill it physically. You can also include your signature and every other relevant information just like you would do physically.
Sharing Notes with Colleagues
Sharing notes, instructions and information with colleagues is an everyday activity on the job.
For example, sharing work progress with colleagues and sending work-in-progress to them for comments or edits. And sometimes, the nature of the shareable information may require the receiver or yourself to write on a PDF document, merge PDFs together or edit the content of the PDF.
Writing an Academic Paper
PDF file format is the best for academic writing as it maintains the content layout across all devices. It fixes the content in place and prevents disarrangement of the document elements during transfer and editing. In addition, it helps to maintain the integrity of the academic paper and research document as the author structured it.
But academic papers are also subjects of constant reviews and editing. Therefore, more often than not, you’ll need to write on your academic paper PDF document.
Writing a Report or Research Project
Research reports are similar to academic papers as they also tend to involve numerous figures, tables and images. Using a PDF file format helps to keep these elements in place during document review.
Like academic papers, research reports are subject to constant review and editing. Therefore, you may need to write on such PDF documents.
Editing an Ebook
Writers are constantly growing, getting better and improving their ideas. Therefore, it’s common for writers to go through their previous works, review and re-edit them. If you happen to be a writer with previous work in PDF format, edits will involve writing text on a PDF document.
Common Considerations for Writing on a PDF Document
You’ll need the right editors or tools to edit or add text to a PDF document. These tools take the work out of editing and adding text to PDF documents. But before picking any tool or method for writing on your PDF file, there’s a need to consider certain factors. These considerations will help you define what you may write on a PDF and how to go about it.
If you’re yet to identify the considerations peculiar to you, here’s what you need to know:
The Type of PDF File
There are three main categories of PDF documents. These three categories also have sub-types depending on the special features or content of the documents.
The three categories of PDF documents are classified based on their origin. Their origins define the accessibility of the contents of PDF documents.
True PDFs
These are original content created on software such as MS Office Suites before conversion into PDF. Their elements are mainly text but may also include figures, images and tables. It’s easier to write on True PDF documents since the characters in their text already have an electronic designation.
Scanned PDFs
Scanned PDF documents are, as their name implies, scanned items. However, the scanned files are always in image-only format — they’re pictures, and you can’t easily edit their contents.
Writing on scanned PDF documents is a different ball game. Nonetheless, the right tool will enable you to add text to them easily.
Searchable PDFs
You get these when you make scanned or image-only PDF documents into editable documents like true PDFs. You can achieve this by using optical character recognition (OCR) to analyze the files.
First, the text recognition process will identify and label the characters in the image. Then, the process ends with the tool adding a text layer on the image in the PDF document to make it searchable.
Writing on searchable PDFs may be tricky, especially if you only want to work on the image layer without affecting the text layer. But then again, you only need the right software to do the job.
Choosing the Right Tool to Write on a PDF Document
Here’s a part of how to type on a PDF document that most people forget. When writing on a PDF, you want to make sure the text you’re adding doesn’t disrupt the existing text structure in the PDF. And that’s what will happen when you use the wrong software to edit your PDF document.
How to Type on a PDF Document
There are several ways through which you can write on a PDF document. It depends a bit on the device you’re working on and your tool of choice.
Below, we’ll explore some of the preferred options for writing on a PDF document:
How to Write on PDF Document Using Sizle
Sizle is a tool that gives you intuitive control over PDF documents. Its intelligent PDF markup and editing tools allow easy annotation for images and documents in PDF formats. With this tool, you can draw lines, add shapes, comments and signatures to your PDF — using a web browser.
With Sizle, how to write on a PDF file becomes an easier prospect regardless of your location. With its cloud integration capabilities, Sizle allows users to save files on Google Drive or Dropbox.
Not only can you type on a PDF file, but Sizle will also automatically save your changes, so you don’t lose them. Here’s what you need to do:
- Log in or sign up for Sizle
- Upload or import your document to Sizle
- On the right side of the editor interface, select the fill & sign option
- Select the ‘add text’ tool on the top pane of the editor.
- Click on the part you want to add text and do what you need to do.
- Close the file, and you’re good to go.
- You can also share the file with collaborators and work colleagues.
How To Write On PDF Files Using a Free Web Editor
Using a free web editor is the second easiest way to write on a PDF document. The process is quite simple and only requires good internet connectivity for this method.
Most web tools require the same or highly similar processes to type on a PDF file. Generally, you’ll need to;
- First, get on the webpage of the editor.
- Login/sign up if the tool requires membership before use (most web tools have this option, but they’re not mandatory).
- Open the file editor on the webpage and upload the PDF document.
- Once the document is ready, open it and click on the add text option wherever it is located on the editor.
- Navigate to where you want to make the edits and write on the PDF document.
- Download the edited document.
The process should be as simple as that. There are numerous web tools that you can try out to write on a PDF document for free.
A free app that allows you to write on a PDF document does come with a unique set of disadvantages. There’s the fact you’ll always need a good internet connection to use them. And since you’ll have to download the final edit, you may be leaving your device prone to a computer virus.
Type On Pdf Free
Note that many PDF web editors are not entirely free. You have a limited number of times you can use them for free. After you exhaust the free trial, you will have to pay to continue using the tool.
How to Write on PDF Documents Using MS Word
You can add text to a PDF document using the Microsoft Word Suite. But to do this, you’ll need Microsoft Word software not older than 2013.
Compared to a tool like Sizle, using MS Word to write on your PDF document is more complicated. First, you’ll need to convert your PDF document to DOCX format. Then, you’ll need to save the file as a PDF document after making the edits.
- To edit a PDF document, launch the Microsoft word suite.
- Open the file you want to edit in the Microsoft word suite
- Add the text you want.
Note that this method may not work if the author locks the PDF document. In this case, you’ll need to obtain permission to edit the file from the author. Then, after adding the necessary texts, go to file, click on ‘save as’ and save the document as a PDF file. You can always convert your DOCX file back to PDF once you are finished.
How to Write on PDF files on Mac
It’s possible to write on a PDF while using a Mac device with the latest software. Depending on the type of editing you’re looking to do, you can also write on a PDF using your iPad or iPhone device.
Start by using the Preview app to open the file on your device. Then, choose any of the following options to make the required changes.
Text Selection
You can use the select tool to delete a block of text.
Rectangular Selection
The rectangular tool on your device can allow you to select a block of text or an image. With it, you can delete images from a PDF file.
Sketch
The sketch tool allows you to sketch different shapes with a single stroke. If your drawing is close to a standard shape, the system will replace it with that shape instead. A palette will also appear on the interface. If you’d prefer to insert your drawing, select it from the palette.
Signature
You can add a digital signature to a PDF file with a trackpad. Click signature and then select the Trackpad feature. After the prompt, sign on your trackpad with your preferred finger.
Press any key after making the motion for your signature on to your trackpad. Then, click done. You can clear the image and try again if you’re not satisfied with the results. You can use Sizle to easily apply an electronic signature to a PDF.
Final Thoughts
How do you type on a PDF? There you have it! The three methods discussed are the most straightforward ways to add text to your PDF. They work on all devices and all types of PDF documents, and they are either free or do not cost much. With those methods, you can write on a PDF file as quickly as any other file format.
We recommend using Sizle as your go-to tool for writing on a PDF document if you’re in a work environment. In addition to PDF editing, Sizle offers secure sharing, a great reader experience and fast markup that enhances your work processes.
People in 130+ countries use Sizle to share secure interactive documents for free.
For office worker, PDF file is undoubtedly one of the most widely used file format. When facing up a PDF business proposal or any other, you may need to edit it for further purposes. But how to edit PDF on mac? Actually, MacOS offers a free Preview helping editing PDF on mac. Here we will introduce several methods to edit PDF on mac with or without Preview.
Edit PDF on Mac with Preview
Apple also take PDF files into consideration when they design Mac, as Apple’s native application, Preview makes it easy to view and edit Portable Document Files (PDFs).
What kind of editing can Preview do to PDF?
- Insert and delete PDF pages
- Copy the selected text so that you can paste it into another document
- Annotate and markup PDF, you can insert a box, oval or line in your document, even change the color, thickness, or fill of these shapes. And you can highlight, underline or add strikethrough to texts in PDF
- Edit PDF text
- Insert your signature into a PDF document
- Add bookmark
Basically, when we talk about editing PDF on mac, we mean editing PDF text on mac. You can absolutely edit PDF text in blank area or on other texts with Preview.
How to edit PDF text on mac with Preview?
- Open PDF with Preview.
- Click “Show Markup Toolbar” >Text Toolbar, then drag the text box to any blank area and edit PDF text in the box.
- In the case you want to edit PDF by replacing existing texts with newly added ones, you need to white out the text first, then add text box to edit PDF on mac.Choose the “Border Color” as none, and then click the “Sketch” icon, you will be able to white out the texts you want to replace. Finally, choose the “Text” and edit PDF text in the text box. You can adjust the font size and color as needed by clicking “A”.
- Once finish editing PDF on mac with Preview, click “Export as PDF” to save the changes and allow no changes from others.
Tips: Although Preview is free and it doesn’t need to download, it only can do some limited editing for PDF files, if you want to edit a scanned document, Preview may be stranded.
Make PDF Editable on Mac for Editing
If you want to edit a PDF on mac as freely as possible, make it in editable Word or other formats first, then editing PDF in Word on mac. Cisdem PDF Converter OCR is the a recommended PDF OCR Software for Mac to turn any PDFs into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote and other editable formats. Its OCR feature supports to recognize over 50 languages on scanned PDF files. That't to say, with this PDF converter, you can even edit scanned PDF on mac now.Even, you can utilize this tool to create, protect, unlock and compress PDF.
How to edit PDF on Mac with Cisdem PDF Converter OCR?
- Open the 'Converter', import the PDF that you want to edit on mac to the program by drag and drop. You can upload multiple PDFs for conversion.
- Tweak the setting to make PDF editable on mac. Choose page range and output format, you can export PDF as Word or other formats that you can edit conveniently.
- Click “Convert” to get a file in editable format on mac.
- Open the file in Word or other file editor, edit PDF on mac, then save the file as PDF again by going File>Save as PDF.
Edit PDF online, free
If you don’t need to edit a PDF on mac that often, use a free PDF editor online. Here we pick PDFfiller, the PDF editor allowing you to add text, annotate, sign, comment, highlight, etc, also you can print and share PDF files online.
- Upload the PDF that you want to edit on mac to the online program
- Choose the mode you want to edit PDF on mac. If you want to add text to the fields, click “Text” and input the text. If you want to replace some words or sentences with new ones, click “Erase”>”Text”, you can adjust the location and size of inputted fonts.
- Click “Done” to save the PDF after editing, you can export as PDF or Word as needed.
Attention:
- Make sure your Internet connection is in good condition
- Do not upload confidential or private files for editing, potention risk of information leakage may occur to your PDF fiels
- Wait patient when the online program processes uploading, editing and downloading.
Edit PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat If You Installed
As the leader of PDF, Adobe Acrobat is undoubtedly a powerful PDF tool that gathers almost all operations of editing PDF. With this application, editing PDF is too simplistic.
Type On Pdf Mac Free Online
What kind of editing can Adobe Acrobat do to PDF?
- Edit images in PDF files. It can resize, replace, and adjust images within your PDF file.
- Add, delete, or edit text. You can change the location of the text box, resize a text box, etc.
- Change the font, font size, text color, alignment, and other items of the text box.
- Search for a specific word or phrase as well as replace a word with another.
- Annotate and sign
How to edit PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat?
Mac Preview Edit Pdf
In Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
- Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat XI Pro.
- Go to Tools>Content Editing>Edit Text & Images, you can choose the tool that best fits your task. Add, insert or delete PDF text as needed.
- Save the file.
In Adobe Acrobat DC
Hand Write On Pdf Mac Free
- Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat DC.
- Go to Tools>Edit PDF, select the part you want to edit, you can add, insert or delete any PDF text as needed.
- Finally, save the file in Adobe Acrobat DC.