If you do have read permission for a file, you may still not be able to edit it. For example, the /etc/passwd file on your system is one that all users can read, but only your system administrator can edit it.
When you have read but not write permission for a file, the file is opened “read-only .” You can open the file in an editor and even make changes within the editor; but if you try to save those changes to the file, you won’t be able to write the file.