Pens

A pen is a writing instrument that dispenses ink onto a surface, typically paper. Most pens consist of a tip or nib, a reservoir of ink, and a barrel. They come in various designs, including self-contained ballpoint, rollerball, fountain, gel, and felt-tip types, as well as dip pens that are used with an inkwell.

In self-contained pens, ink is stored inside and delivered to the tip through a feed by capillary action, gravity, or a controlled mechanism. The writing surface picks up ink as the nib or ball moves across the page. Some pens also include mechanisms to regulate ink flow and pressure.

Writing with ink on demand predates modern pens, with reed and quill implements. The modern fountain pen arose in the 19th century, with improvements by inventors such as Lewis Edson Waterman, who helped establish a reliable self-contained fountain pen in the 1880s. The ballpoint pen was developed in the 1930s and 1940s by László Bíró and collaborators, and achieved widespread use after World War II.

Fountain pens use a nib and internal ink reservoir, drawing ink via a feeding system. Ballpoint pens rely on a small ball that rotates to transfer viscous oil-based ink. Rollerball pens use a ball with water-based ink, producing smoother writing similar to fountain pens. Gel pens mix pigment with a thick gel to improve opacity and dry time. Felt-tip and fiber-tip pens use porous nibs for quick, bold lines and are often used for art and diagrams. Dip pens require dipping into an inkwell.

Pens are designed for reuse or disposal. Refillable fountain and rollerball pens, and cartridges or converters for refilling, are common in professional contexts and offer long-term use. Disposable plastic pens are widely used and inexpensive. In education and offices, pens remain the dominant writing instrument for everyday writing and note taking, while specialty pens are used in calligraphy and art.