The humble pencil has been around for nearly six hundred years and continues to be a popular writing instrument.

Despite the digital age and the growing use of phones and computers, the pencil remains a timeless tool that doesn't require recharging or batteries—just an occasional sharpening.

Pencils Aren’t Filled with Lead (Seriously, Stop Saying That)

You won’t get lead poisoning from a pencil because there is no lead in it. The dark substance inside pencils is graphite, which has been used since the invention of pencils.

One Tree Makes a Hill of Pencils

An average tree can produce around 170,000 pencils. The most common type of tree used in pencil production is the cedar tree.

The #2 on Your Pencil Denotes the Darkness of the Graphite Used (Not Lead)

Dear Lykkers, there’s no lead in pencils, as mentioned before. The #2 refers to the type of graphite used, with the HB hardness scale commonly used for writing. The #2 is the standard in American pencils.

Graphite (NOT LEAD) Comes from Greek

The word "graphite" comes from the Greek word "graphine," which means "to write."

Pencils Can Be Used Almost Everywhere

Graphite, wood, and clay come together to make a pencil that can be used in a variety of environments—underwater, in space, or even upside down. If you ever find yourself scuba diving and want to write something, a pencil will do the trick.

Pencils Were the Preferred Writing Tool of Famous Writers

Legendary writers like Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck preferred pencils for writing their famous novels.

Pencils Will Last You Far Longer than Any Ballpoint Pen

While unproven, there is a theory that a pencil can draw a line about 35 miles long. Though this has yet to be confirmed, it’s safe to say that pencils last far longer than pens.

There’s a Reason Hemingway and Steinbeck Used Pencils

On average, a pencil can write around 45,000 words, which is about the length of a short novel.

Pencils Have Their Own Holiday

March 30th is celebrated as World Pencil Day, a day to respect this simple yet essential tool.

The Yellow Pencil and the China Connection

In the early days of pencil production, American manufacturers painted pencils yellow to signify that they used the best graphite from China, a symbol of royalty and respect.

It Took a Long Time for the Pencil Sharpener to Be Invented

The pencil sharpener, invented by Bernard Lassimone in 1828, came long after the pencil itself. Before that, people had to use knives to sharpen pencils.

The First Pencil Sharpener

Before the invention of the pencil sharpener, knives were the tool of choice for sharpening pencils, leading to many accidental cuts.

Thank John Dixon if You Love Pencils

John Dixon of Dixon Pencils revolutionized pencil production by creating a machine that mass-produced wooden shapes that could easily hold graphite cores, speeding up the process.

The First Pencils Never Stayed Put!

Early pencils were round, which caused them to roll off surfaces easily. This was a common frustration for those who used them.

Understanding PENCIL GRADES - What you NEED to know

Video by Dan Beardshaw

The World Makes a Lot of Pencils

Every year, around 15 billion pencils are produced globally. If laid end to end, they would circle the Earth 62 times.

Not All Pencils are Made of Wood

In the US, mechanical pencils are the norm, but in the UK, they’re called propelling pencils, and in India, they’re known as pen pencils.

And Not All Pencils Let You Make Mistakes

While American pencils usually have erasers, European pencils typically don’t. Perhaps they still use bread to rub out their mistakes?

There Is NO LEAD in Mechanical Pencils Either

Even though mechanical pencils are sold with "lead" refills, the core material is actually graphite, not lead. So, don’t worry about lead poisoning with these pencils either!