A pen is like a hairstyle, a tie, the shoes you wear, the watch you wear, the car you drive, or the colors you like. Taken by themselves, these may not be important, but together they can say a lot about your personality.
All of us probably have a favorite pen, and that favorite pen can be dictated by numerous things. For example, perhaps a fountain pen is the preferred pen for signing documents or letters; in a meeting perhaps, a person wants a pen that makes a statement; Or, perhaps, a functional pen is required when engaging in extensive writing. Whatever the need, there certainly seems to be a plethora of reasonably priced pens to satisfy unlimited personal needs or preferences.
Exploring pen options is simply about addressing aesthetics; what looks and feels good to the writer while fitting the writing style and environment. For example, if a writer has a broad, flowing writing style, a broad tip (quill, ballpoint, ballpoint, or gel pen) may be preferred. Whatever his personal preference is regarding shape, color, pen size, ink color, how wide the ink pattern/image is, it all plays into his personality. Even handwriting experts can determine a person’s personality based on looking at the handwriting.
“Graphology, the science of analyzing handwriting for personality traits, has been around since the days of Aristotle. Today, it’s used for a variety of purposes, from criminal investigations to understanding your health. Some employers even they use handwriting analysis to screen potential employees for compatibility,” says Mike Nudelman writing for Business Insider.
Mr. Nudelman spoke with teacher graphologist Kathi McKnight about what the seemingly insignificant details of his handwriting say about his personality. “Just by analyzing your handwriting, experts can find over 5,000 personality traits,” says McKnight.
In an article in “The Atlantic,” Ms. Doll says: “Mr. Schmitz (Chairman of Monte Blanc Pens) always carries at least two pens with him during his workday: one is a functional pen, the other a fountain pen. , which is reserved for times when you want to take time to express something.” Not only do some people prefer specific pen styles (weight, color, metal vs. plastic, retractable vs. rod, etc.), some people even prefer certain scents of ink used in fountain pens.
Today the options in cheap ballpoint pens go back to the 1950s when you could choose between a cheap fountain pen, the yellow Bic ballpoint pen and a retractable Parker.
Like most product designs, in the final analysis it all boils down to a compromise. There are thoughts that are nice to look at but feel terrible to write with. Some pens allow for smooth writing, but don’t provide a certain amount of drag that allows for more deliberate writing. To add to the confusion, there are now so many different styles of ink; each ink formula has its own look.
In all of this discussion there should be some consideration as to the style of paper the writer uses. For example, some paper styles allow fountain pen and gel inks to bleed through; not good.
In the selection of writing instruments is the art of compromise. Here are some things to consider when trying to find a pen that will become your favorite for everyday or special occasions.
Applications-As noted above, which pen will be a style statement or functional? Maybe you need a pen for both.
Appearance-If you are looking for an instrument that has a nice design that feels in your hand and a color that is attractive, the options are plentiful. There are rubber grips, translucent bodies, colored bodies with chrome accents, colored accents, and some that are made of metal.
Budget-There are many options for everyday and luxury pens on the market that can range from $1.90 to $7.00 each. Luxury pens have been known to sell for thousands of dollars.
Operation-Don’t rule out stick pens; there are some excellent types of pencil that write well and feel great in the hand and some in various colors and point and ink styles (gel, ballpoint, rollerball and emulsion inks). For personal use, not found in the office supply cabinet, there are many options in retractable/click styles.
ink colors-In fountain pens, ink colors are unlimited. In rollerball, ballpoint, gel types, color options are available. Note that you can buy a pen with a certain color ink (burgundy, for example), but you can only get refills in blue or black ink; this makes no sense: a new pen comes in a color that is not available in a refill; Go figure.
Design versus function-There are thin versus thick barrel pens with an abundance of colors. Ultimately it comes down to what feels good in your hand. Fineliner pens and permanent markers aren’t part of this discussion because most people don’t use them for writing every day.
There was a time when there was only one pen company (pen manufacturer) that made a pen that could write underwater, on oily surfaces, and upside down. Today there are a couple of other companies that make pens capable of writing in that kind of environment.
The quality of the pocket clip seems to be commensurate with the cost. It’s easy to lose a pen when the clip is poorly designed. One could even say that the clip is a nuisance.
The weight and balance of a pen is really a design feature that a person should not overlook.
Nib and nib thicknesses-Depending on the ink (pen, ballpoint, gels and emulsion types) there are line thickness options from 0.35mm to over 1.5mm. Some would refer to this as a fine, medium, or bold writing point. There are some applications where a colored ink pen, with a very fine tip, is required. And yes, there is a pen that will do that job.
Every manufacturer seems to have a different take on the thickness of a ballpoint pen tip. A pen labeled 0.7mm can actually dispense ink that appears wider on paper.
Note: Choosing a pen is all about a compromise of ink colors, aesthetics, feel, application of writing/personal style, and even paper type – nothing is perfect.
potpourri-Personally I prefer a medium point pen with burgundy ink (I prefer the color because I’m in the wine business). I prefer the heavier retractable type which is relatively slim with a rubber grip.
The ink cartridge/refill is essential to enjoy a writing instrument in all price ranges. I invariably buy a pen that appears to have a burr on the tip that pierces and scratches the paper. On the contrary, there are actually some companies that promote a very smooth typing experience; for me it’s negative because I prefer a light drag/friction on the paper because I feel more in control of my writing.
To sign formal documents or letters, I use a fountain pen with black ink because black ink makes better copies.
Right now I have 28 different pens on my desk and on average I probably use 3 different ones daily: gel, ballpoint, fountain. Sometimes my favorite is a free promotional pen. There are approximately 133 companies that sell pens in the US, and most of them offer multiple pen formats in their collection (fountain, ballpoint, rollerball, and gel). Additionally, there are multiple private label manufacturers sold by office supply stores and used as promotional items.
With the options available, you can surely find a favorite and enjoy writing and doodling with a pen. If extravagance is in your budget, you can always spend $300 or more on an attractive instrument, whether it’s a fountain pen, ballpoint pen or rollerball. In the end though, it’s the nib/pen and the refill/cartridge that are important, after all, writing is really about putting an image on paper.
