diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 705cc21bf0..b711a20b68 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     Bug #6129: Player avatar not displayed correctly for large window sizes when GUI scaling active
     Bug #6131: Item selection in the avatar window not working correctly for large window sizes
     Bug #6133: Cannot reliably sneak or steal in the sight of the NPCs siding with player
+    Editor: For consistency with TES CS make DELE records 4 bytes long
 
 0.47.0
 ------
diff --git a/components/esm/cellref.cpp b/components/esm/cellref.cpp
index 20edf00a8b..733547216b 100644
--- a/components/esm/cellref.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/cellref.cpp
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ void ESM::CellRef::save (ESMWriter &esm, bool wideRefNum, bool inInventory, bool
     esm.writeHNCString("NAME", mRefID);
 
     if (isDeleted) {
-        esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+        esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/debugprofile.cpp b/components/esm/debugprofile.cpp
index 17249d8a3b..1dcf661fc9 100644
--- a/components/esm/debugprofile.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/debugprofile.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void ESM::DebugProfile::save (ESMWriter& esm, bool isDeleted) const
 
     if (isDeleted)
     {
-        esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+        esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/filter.cpp b/components/esm/filter.cpp
index 4f0519f80b..5bae1ed03e 100644
--- a/components/esm/filter.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/filter.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void ESM::Filter::save (ESMWriter& esm, bool isDeleted) const
 
     if (isDeleted)
     {
-        esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+        esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadacti.cpp b/components/esm/loadacti.cpp
index ba35535b8f..57c55d6760 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadacti.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadacti.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadalch.cpp b/components/esm/loadalch.cpp
index 85c24dc2d1..ba904f5037 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadalch.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadalch.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadappa.cpp b/components/esm/loadappa.cpp
index 1bd1f93798..b448e778cf 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadappa.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadappa.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadarmo.cpp b/components/esm/loadarmo.cpp
index 6743702539..9e2eca9a2c 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadarmo.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadarmo.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadbody.cpp b/components/esm/loadbody.cpp
index 3e5895c2c6..4ddefc92c7 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadbody.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadbody.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadbook.cpp b/components/esm/loadbook.cpp
index ee3c0c4af5..c6d1d618de 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadbook.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadbook.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadbsgn.cpp b/components/esm/loadbsgn.cpp
index e3b2f76a3a..1f679af39a 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadbsgn.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadbsgn.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
         esm.writeHNOCString("FNAM", mName);
diff --git a/components/esm/loadcell.cpp b/components/esm/loadcell.cpp
index bf70aad96f..0356cc646b 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadcell.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadcell.cpp
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadclas.cpp b/components/esm/loadclas.cpp
index 1e18bc0540..b76fc57067 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadclas.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadclas.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadclot.cpp b/components/esm/loadclot.cpp
index 12f0d495d5..9546eec2dd 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadclot.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadclot.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadcont.cpp b/components/esm/loadcont.cpp
index 107aea7cf6..077fc2145a 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadcont.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadcont.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadcrea.cpp b/components/esm/loadcrea.cpp
index 52138e2232..ecb080f75e 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadcrea.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadcrea.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ namespace ESM {
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loaddial.cpp b/components/esm/loaddial.cpp
index d7e0a6ee17..59fb13484b 100644
--- a/components/esm/loaddial.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loaddial.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace ESM
         esm.writeHNCString("NAME", mId);
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/components/esm/loaddoor.cpp b/components/esm/loaddoor.cpp
index 523d8a1efc..d99418add2 100644
--- a/components/esm/loaddoor.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loaddoor.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadench.cpp b/components/esm/loadench.cpp
index 8c4dd8c644..3c1a2f1eda 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadench.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadench.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadfact.cpp b/components/esm/loadfact.cpp
index ff2fbf66d1..bd0962721b 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadfact.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadfact.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadinfo.cpp b/components/esm/loadinfo.cpp
index 38bb163e61..15921249f4 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadinfo.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadinfo.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadingr.cpp b/components/esm/loadingr.cpp
index a18e321ff7..a19a9d5dd9 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadingr.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadingr.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadland.cpp b/components/esm/loadland.cpp
index d23452d76e..1fac79082d 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadland.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadland.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadlevlist.cpp b/components/esm/loadlevlist.cpp
index 0aed15aa94..26751b8925 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadlevlist.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadlevlist.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadligh.cpp b/components/esm/loadligh.cpp
index 2a6dac14b0..2e3f711eb7 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadligh.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadligh.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadlock.cpp b/components/esm/loadlock.cpp
index b14353ec5a..6f02909b98 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadlock.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadlock.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadltex.cpp b/components/esm/loadltex.cpp
index 3e150f9c0c..6bdc40e5fc 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadltex.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadltex.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadmisc.cpp b/components/esm/loadmisc.cpp
index 3ba6626505..90fcd618e8 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadmisc.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadmisc.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadnpc.cpp b/components/esm/loadnpc.cpp
index 2bb0811ac9..34d806072d 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadnpc.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadnpc.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadpgrd.cpp b/components/esm/loadpgrd.cpp
index 9abeba2605..7bf60ca5fc 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadpgrd.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadpgrd.cpp
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadprob.cpp b/components/esm/loadprob.cpp
index 6307df3298..ceb19a77b6 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadprob.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadprob.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadrace.cpp b/components/esm/loadrace.cpp
index fbdf22fb6d..ce3cc95bf8 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadrace.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadrace.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadregn.cpp b/components/esm/loadregn.cpp
index ada33dc3f8..91ea92e305 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadregn.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadregn.cpp
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadrepa.cpp b/components/esm/loadrepa.cpp
index c04691c12f..c86227a045 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadrepa.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadrepa.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp b/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp
index 1ad90dbc31..19602fef62 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadsndg.cpp b/components/esm/loadsndg.cpp
index 9bd806641b..c6ea930a20 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadsndg.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadsndg.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadsoun.cpp b/components/esm/loadsoun.cpp
index 3b3dc1eacd..ccb5f6fdce 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadsoun.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadsoun.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadspel.cpp b/components/esm/loadspel.cpp
index 947e6c9ec8..34e146501c 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadspel.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadspel.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadsscr.cpp b/components/esm/loadsscr.cpp
index f8854493b9..f436c32a1c 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadsscr.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadsscr.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ namespace ESM
         esm.writeHNCString("NAME", mId);
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/components/esm/loadstat.cpp b/components/esm/loadstat.cpp
index 6c9de22bd1..14bac10f95 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadstat.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadstat.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace ESM
         esm.writeHNCString("NAME", mId);
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/components/esm/loadweap.cpp b/components/esm/loadweap.cpp
index 4a77ff6a00..b57359e29d 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadweap.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadweap.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (isDeleted)
         {
-            esm.writeHNCString("DELE", "");
+            esm.writeHNString("DELE", "", 3);
             return;
         }