Soft editing can refer to copy editing a piece of written work without actually printing it. All edits and revisions are made strictly through electronic means, whether using a publishing application, Microsoft Word or otherwise. However, like hard editing, soft editing can also refer to a standard of editing dependent on the tone of the particular piece. Unlike hard editing, a casual piece of writing, such as a first-person blog, does not necessarily need to adhere to the guidelines laid out by the MLA or the APA. However, soft editing still serves the same purpose as hard editing; it’s a service provided by professionals which results in an improvement in the overall impact and quality of work by clarifying, improving and strengthening a written work in its entirety.