Rötning

Rätning is a Swedish noun meaning the act or process of straightening or bringing something into alignment. It stems from the adjective rätt, meaning correct or straight, with the nominalizing suffix -ning. The term is used in various technical and everyday contexts to describe procedures that remove curvature, tilt, or misalignment.

In carpentry, metalworking, and manufacturing, rätning describes straightening bent parts so they fit and function correctly. Methods include planing, grinding, heating and quenching (in metals), pressing, or mechanical straightening with clamps and straightedges to verify true edges.

In construction and surveying, rätning refers to aligning structural elements and ensuring square, level, and true surfaces. Tools used include spirit levels, laser levels, plumb lines, and straightedges, along with shims to adjust tolerances.

In dentistry, the analogous concept is orthodontics; patients undergo procedures to straighten teeth, which is colloquially referred to as rätning of teeth in some contexts.

In geology and earth sciences, rätning may describe correcting measurement artifacts or aligning stratigraphic data for comparative analysis.

See also: alignment, straightness, correction, leveling.