133:
299:
524:
evaporating dry or wicking into the user's pocket. Depending on the design of the pen, the ink reservoir can be filled in several different ways: direct addition by eyedropper, suction from an internal mechanism, or disposable pre-filled cartridges. Some cartridge-based fountain pens can be fitted with "converters", which are separate piston/suction reservoirs of the same dimensions as the pen's usual refill cartridge; these allow the pen to refill from bottled ink.
1172:
631:
36:
512:
497:. They can be used with most types of ink, some of which are incompatible with other types of pen. Automatic pens are a category of dip pen, in which the nib is in two parts and can hold a larger quantity of ink. However, like all of its precursors, the steel-nibbed dip pens had a limited ink reservoir and a tendency to drip inkblots on the page.
583:
graphite in mechanical pencils is typically much narrower than in wooden pencils, frequently in sub-millimeter diameters. This makes them particularly useful for fine diagrams or small handwriting, although different sizes of refill leads cannot be interchanged in the same pencil unless it has been specially designed for that purpose.
527:
Only certain types of ink can be used in a fountain pen, to avoid clogging up the nib unit mechanism. Although the larger reservoir of fountain pens requires less frequent ink replenishment, the ink may inconveniently spill out in certain contexts to stain the paper, fingers, or clothing of an unwary
536:
A large number of new pen types were popularized in the 20th century. Some of them are not constructed to be refilled with ink after they run dry; although others can theoretically have their internal ink compartment replaced, the widespread custom is to simply throw away the entire pen when its ink
610:
A brush differs from a pen in that instead of a rigid nib, the brush is tipped with soft bristles. The bristles are gently swept across the paper with just enough pressure to allow ink to wick onto the surface, rather than mashing down the brush to the extent of substantial friction resistance.
582:
feeds a small, mobile piece of graphite through its tip. An internal mechanism controls the position of the graphite by friction, so that although it remains steady while writing, the graphite can be advanced forward to compensate for gradual wear or retracted to protect it when not in use. The
523:
were developed in the 19th century, with functionally similar designs appearing as early as the 10th century. These consist of the nib unit, an ink reservoir chamber, and an external casing. The casing usually includes a cover for the nib, in order to protect its shape and keep the ink from
199:
carved into turtle shells. However, this may simply represent the relative durability of such artifacts rather than truly representing the evolution of techniques, as the meaningful application of pigment is attested in prehistoric cave paintings such as the ones at
381:
resembles both a crayon and a pencil in that it contains a brightly colored wax core within a protective paper casing, but its proportions are closer to that of a standard pencil. Wax pencils are primarily used to write onto nonporous surfaces such as
393:
Normal pencils, chalk, and crayons all share the characteristic that they cannot "run out". The useful life of these implements is closely linked to their physical existence. However, specialized accessories such as
728:
359:
at the front of the room. In the 19th century, and indeed well into the 20th century, when paper was less readily available, individual students also wrote with chalk on their own small
489:
has a steel nib (the pen proper) and a pen-holder. Dip pens are very versatile, as the pen-holder can accommodate a wide variety of nibs that are specialized for different purposes:
622:" which in that regard resemble a fountain pen, with an internal ink reservoir built into the handle which can be refilled with preloaded cartridges or a bottle-fill converter.
611:
Although pens with semi-flexible nibs and liquid ink can also vary their stroke width depending on the degree of applied pressure, their variation range is far less obvious.
344:
for consistency, enclosed within an outer wooden casing to protect the fragile graphite from being snapped apart or from leaving marks on the user's hand.
322:
stylus used by the ancient Romans, who also used it to write on wood or papyrus by leaving dark streaks where the soft metal rubbed off onto the surface.
717:
754:
223:
into soft clay tablets, creating characteristic wedge-shaped marks. The clay tablets were then baked to harden them and permanently preserve the marks.
195:
The oldest known examples were created by incising a flat surface with a rigid tool rather than applying pigment with a secondary object, e.g., Chinese
678:
can be used to create standardised letters, patterns or signatures. There are also pencil sharpeners that can exclusively be used with wooden pencils.
552:. Both of these have subtypes which are popularly called by their own specific names, usually based on the type of their ink, such as the fluorescent
366:
Both pencils and chalk exist in variants which can create marks in other colors, but colored pencils and colored chalk are generally considered to be
1132:
687:
458:
pens were standard in Europe and the United States up through the 18th and 19th centuries, and are still used in various contexts, such as
1047:
53:
119:
100:
152:. Writing consists of different figures, lines, and or forms. Most of these items can be also used for other functions such as
72:
1120:
793:
57:
1162:
440:. However, these ink reservoirs were relatively small, requiring the pen to be periodically dipped back into an external
79:
132:
1192:
86:
398:
may be required to reshape the working end of the pigment core or to remove the outer casing from around the tip.
46:
329:: a lead-based metal alloy that leaves dark markings on paper by abrading small pieces of core onto the surface.
187:
An autonomous writing implement is one that cannot "run out"—the only way to render it useless is to destroy it.
600:
68:
750:
614:
Traditionally, brushes have been loaded with ink by dipping the bristles into an external pool of ink on an
1037:
298:
268:
use a stylus to enter information onto a screen by applying pressure rather than by depositing pigment.
171:
Another writing implement employed by a smaller population is the stylus used in conjunction with the
1052:
981:
436:
point from the end of a thin, hollow natural material which could retain a small reservoir of ink by
1042:
164:, but writing instruments generally have the ordinary requirement to create a smooth, controllable
786:
674:
were a precursor of blotting paper, being a dispenser for powdery material for drying the paper.
490:
283:
261:
424:
is the most common form of writing implement. It has a hard tip which applies ink to a surface.
406:
These require the presence of an added pigment in order to write, and are useless when "empty".
374:
to write words into their pictures, writing is not considered to be the primary use of crayons.
93:
1142:
647:
579:
573:
395:
370:
rather than writing instruments. Similarly, although very young children may use colorful wax
307:
208:
161:
1004:
881:
831:
697:
692:
651:
437:
287:
230:
also inscribed their records into clay tablets but did not routinely bake them; much of the
227:
172:
528:
writer. Differences in air pressure may cause the ink to leak when travelling by airplane.
1171:
635:
494:
360:
1176:
1019:
949:
913:
578:
Unlike the construction of a traditional wooden pencil around a solid graphite core, a
557:
630:
238:
was accidentally preserved by a catastrophic fire which hard-baked those tablets. The
1186:
1064:
1014:
999:
933:
821:
779:
659:
541:
520:
271:
Words and names are still commonly inscribed into commemorative objects, such as the
290:, but the requisite tools are not exclusively considered to be writing instruments.
1084:
1079:
954:
876:
846:
549:
506:
367:
265:
239:
235:
17:
1105:
871:
836:
553:
545:
459:
279:
212:
35:
618:, analogous to a traditional dip pen with an inkwell. Some companies now make "
511:
1110:
1074:
1057:
918:
866:
861:
816:
671:
667:
378:
356:
352:
250:
1125:
1089:
1009:
964:
886:
856:
604:
433:
383:
272:
216:
591:
Although in
Western civilization writing is usually done with some form of
976:
969:
923:
908:
655:
615:
447:
337:
303:
231:
196:
153:
1149:
1069:
959:
903:
851:
841:
826:
675:
619:
561:
486:
479:
451:
441:
371:
333:
254:
201:
176:
157:
149:
607:, which is perceived as lending itself to a graceful, flowing stroke.
1137:
1115:
928:
643:
592:
315:
276:
246:
220:
165:
898:
893:
663:
629:
510:
471:
467:
466:
transactions. The most common quills were taken from the wings of
455:
387:
348:
297:
131:
475:
463:
341:
325:
The concept has been revived in recent times as the core of the
319:
243:
775:
991:
802:
596:
421:
415:
29:
642:
Other implements indirectly associated with writing include
751:"Endless Pens Never Run Out of Ink, Leak, Smear or Smudge"
493:
writing, mapping pens, and five-pointed nibs for drawing
771:
1160:
1098:
1030:
990:
942:
809:
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
432:Initially, pens were made by slicing a suitable
136:Styli used in writing in the fourteenth century.
599:, other cultures have used other instruments.
450:were used by the ancient Egyptians to write on
787:
8:
603:characters are traditionally written with a
336:" have a nonpoisonous core of greyish-black
302:The 3rd-4th-century writing implements from
794:
780:
772:
211:and their successor cultures, such as the
548:in many Commonwealth countries) and the
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
1167:
709:
688:List of pen types, brands and companies
253:which could be "erased" by rubbing the
226:Several other ancient cultures such as
482:were sometimes favored for prestige.
7:
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1133:List of types, brands and companies
515:A letter written with fountain pen.
462:and formal settings such as major
340:mixed with various proportions of
286:carved into the stone wall of the
25:
731:from the original on Jul 10, 2023
725:American Foundation for the Blind
219:writing by pressing a triangular
1170:
34:
757:from the original on 2021-10-05
351:has been traditionally used in
45:needs additional citations for
1:
175:for punching out the dots in
148:is an object used to produce
474:, although the feathers of
332:However, most modern "lead
314:The original form of "lead
264:and certain other computer
1209:
571:
504:
413:
537:is no longer accessible.
428:Capillary-action dip pens
718:"Slate and Stylus Video"
540:These types include the
639:
516:
311:
275:winners' names on the
257:surface smooth again.
137:
1038:Ballpoint pen artwork
753:. 10 September 2010.
633:
514:
301:
294:With inherent pigment
135:
27:Tool used for writing
1053:Birmingham pen trade
1048:Counterfeit banknote
646:for pen and pencil,
54:improve this article
1043:Ballpoint pen knife
668:drawing instruments
355:to write on a main
262:hand held computers
260:In the modern era,
69:"Writing implement"
1193:Writing implements
721:(video transcript)
640:
568:Mechanical pencils
517:
444:for replenishing.
312:
284:Gettysburg Address
146:writing instrument
138:
18:Writing instrument
1158:
1157:
1143:Mechanical pencil
648:pencil sharpeners
580:mechanical pencil
574:Mechanical pencil
519:The first modern
396:pencil sharpeners
215:, produced their
162:technical drawing
142:writing implement
130:
129:
122:
104:
16:(Redirected from
1200:
1175:
1174:
1166:
796:
789:
782:
773:
766:
765:
763:
762:
747:
741:
740:
738:
736:
722:
714:
698:Writing material
693:Writing in space
652:pencil extenders
544:(often called a
438:capillary action
288:Lincoln Memorial
228:Mycenaean Greece
125:
118:
114:
111:
105:
103:
62:
38:
30:
21:
1208:
1207:
1203:
1202:
1201:
1199:
1198:
1197:
1183:
1182:
1181:
1169:
1161:
1159:
1154:
1094:
1026:
986:
943:Parts and tools
938:
805:
800:
770:
769:
760:
758:
749:
748:
744:
734:
732:
720:
716:
715:
711:
706:
684:
636:pencil extender
628:
589:
576:
570:
534:
532:Disposable pens
509:
503:
430:
418:
412:
404:
296:
193:
191:Without pigment
185:
126:
115:
109:
106:
63:
61:
51:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1206:
1204:
1196:
1195:
1185:
1184:
1180:
1179:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1135:
1130:
1129:
1128:
1123:
1113:
1108:
1102:
1100:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1061:
1060:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1024:
1023:
1022:
1012:
1007:
1002:
996:
994:
988:
987:
985:
984:
979:
974:
973:
972:
962:
957:
952:
950:Blotting paper
946:
944:
940:
939:
937:
936:
931:
926:
921:
916:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
890:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
829:
824:
819:
813:
811:
807:
806:
801:
799:
798:
791:
784:
776:
768:
767:
742:
708:
707:
705:
702:
701:
700:
695:
690:
683:
680:
627:
624:
588:
585:
572:Main article:
569:
566:
558:rollerball pen
533:
530:
505:Main article:
502:
499:
429:
426:
414:Main article:
411:
408:
403:
400:
295:
292:
192:
189:
184:
181:
128:
127:
110:September 2007
42:
40:
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1205:
1194:
1191:
1190:
1188:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1164:
1151:
1148:
1144:
1141:
1140:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1118:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1097:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1065:Pen computing
1063:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1029:
1021:
1018:
1017:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
997:
995:
993:
989:
983:
980:
978:
975:
971:
968:
967:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
947:
945:
941:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
864:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
820:
818:
815:
814:
812:
808:
804:
797:
792:
790:
785:
783:
778:
777:
774:
756:
752:
746:
743:
730:
726:
719:
713:
710:
703:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
685:
681:
679:
677:
673:
669:
665:
661:
660:blotter paper
657:
653:
649:
645:
637:
632:
625:
623:
621:
617:
612:
608:
606:
602:
598:
594:
586:
584:
581:
575:
567:
565:
563:
559:
555:
551:
547:
543:
542:ballpoint pen
538:
531:
529:
525:
522:
521:fountain pens
513:
508:
501:Fountain pens
500:
498:
496:
492:
488:
483:
481:
477:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
443:
439:
435:
427:
425:
423:
417:
409:
407:
401:
399:
397:
391:
389:
385:
380:
375:
373:
369:
364:
362:
358:
354:
350:
345:
343:
339:
335:
330:
328:
323:
321:
317:
309:
305:
300:
293:
291:
289:
285:
281:
278:
274:
269:
267:
266:input devices
263:
258:
256:
252:
248:
245:
241:
237:
233:
229:
224:
222:
218:
214:
210:
205:
203:
198:
190:
188:
182:
180:
178:
174:
169:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
134:
124:
121:
113:
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
1085:Pen spinning
1080:Pen painting
1005:Fountain pen
832:Demonstrator
759:. Retrieved
745:
733:. Retrieved
724:
712:
666:and related
641:
613:
609:
590:
577:
550:felt tip pen
539:
535:
526:
518:
507:Fountain pen
495:music staves
484:
446:
431:
419:
405:
392:
376:
368:art supplies
365:
346:
331:
326:
324:
313:
270:
259:
236:Minoan Crete
234:corpus from
225:
207:The ancient
206:
194:
186:
170:
145:
141:
139:
116:
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
1106:Calligraphy
955:Ink blotter
872:highlighter
672:Pounce pots
626:Accessories
554:highlighter
491:copperplate
460:calligraphy
353:schoolrooms
327:inkless pen
280:Stanley Cup
251:wax tablets
213:Babylonians
1111:Cartooning
1075:Penmanship
1058:Pen Museum
914:Rollerball
761:2021-10-05
704:References
620:brush pens
560:, and the
379:wax pencil
357:blackboard
318:" was the
183:Autonomous
80:newspapers
1126:Lettering
1090:Retipping
1015:Iron gall
1000:Alizarine
934:Technical
882:permanent
867:dry erase
822:Ballpoint
634:A wooden
448:Reed pens
384:porcelain
217:cuneiform
209:Sumerians
1187:Category
977:Penknife
970:flex nib
847:Fountain
755:Archived
729:Archived
682:See also
676:Stencils
656:inkwells
616:inkstone
480:peacocks
402:Assisted
338:graphite
304:Mtskheta
273:engraved
232:Linear B
197:jiaguwen
154:painting
1177:Writing
1150:Narayam
1099:Related
1070:Pen gun
1020:Stark's
960:Inkwell
904:Rastrum
837:Digital
644:erasers
601:Chinese
587:Brushes
562:gel pen
487:dip pen
452:papyrus
442:inkwell
372:crayons
334:pencils
308:Georgia
282:or the
255:beeswax
202:Lascaux
177:Braille
158:drawing
150:writing
94:scholar
1163:Portal
1138:Pencil
1121:Inking
1116:Comics
982:Pounce
929:Stylus
919:Ruling
862:Marker
817:Active
735:22 May
664:rulers
662:, and
593:pencil
556:, the
472:ravens
361:slates
347:White
320:leaden
316:pencil
277:silver
240:Romans
221:stylus
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
1031:Other
1010:India
899:Quill
894:Qalam
877:paint
857:Light
827:Brush
810:Types
605:brush
476:swans
468:geese
456:Quill
388:glass
349:chalk
249:with
247:styli
242:used
173:slate
101:JSTOR
87:books
992:Inks
924:Skin
909:Reed
803:Pens
737:2022
546:biro
478:and
464:bank
420:The
410:Pens
342:clay
244:lead
166:line
160:and
73:news
965:Nib
852:Gel
842:Dip
597:pen
595:or
470:or
434:nib
422:pen
416:Pen
386:or
144:or
56:by
1189::
887:UV
727:.
723:.
670:.
658:,
654:,
650:,
564:.
485:A
454:.
390:.
377:A
363:.
306:,
204:.
179:.
168:.
156:,
140:A
1165::
795:e
788:t
781:v
764:.
739:.
638:.
310:.
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.