Can't seem to edit score the way I want to

It always helps to attach the specific score you are having toruble wiuth and epxlain precisely, step by step, what you are doing. but in general, I would suggest you re-read the Handbook sections on note inut, also watch the tutorial videos, and things should make more sense. Basically, deleting rests or notes *by itself* makes no musical sense - there still needs to be the correct numebrs of beats in the measure. So in general, don't think in terms of "deleting" something, but rather, *replacing* it. The delete button replaces notes by rests, thus preserving the length of the measure. Deleting rests would leave the meausre with too few beats. Musically, what you presumably really want is to *replace* the rests with something else - like notes. Maybe the notes that follow those rests? So select them and use cut & past to replace the rests.