overskriving

Overskriving is a Norwegian term that generally refers to two distinct notions: the act of rewriting or revising text in editing, and the process of writing new data over existing data in a storage medium. The meaning depends on context, with the same root verb overskrive meaning “to overwrite” or “to rewrite.”

Etymology and senses

The word combines over- (a prefix indicating excess or completion) with skrive (to write), yielding a meaning related to writing beyond or over what was there before. In editing, overskriving describes reworking content, often to improve clarity, accuracy, or style, while in computing and data management it denotes replacing current data with new information.

Editing and publishing sense

In text production, overskriving refers to revising a passage, sentence, or document. It can involve rephrasing, restructuring, or clarifying arguments, and is typically distinguished from proofreading (checking for errors) and from drafting (initial writing). The goal is to produce a more effective or precise version while preserving the intended meaning.

Computing and data management sense

In information technology, overskriving is the act of writing new data over existing data, thereby erasing what was previously stored. This is a common method for deleting files or updating blocks of memory. The approach has implications for data security and recovery: simple overwriting may suffice for casual deletion, but secure deletion on modern storage media often requires specific overwriting patterns or cryptographic erasure, especially on solid-state drives where wear-leveling can complicate complete data removal.

Notes

In ordinary Norwegian usage, overskriving is most often encountered in technical or professional contexts related to editing or data processing. The exact meaning should be inferred from the surrounding domain to avoid ambiguity.