Pen is a device used for writing purposes on a variety of surfaces. The most commonly used medium for writing is paper. Reed pen was the first pen invented by man many centuries ago. After the reed pen was introduced the quill pen. It was made from the feathers of different birds. Followed by quill pen were the dip pens. These pens were used to write on paper by dipping it in the ink.
Over the years, these types of pens have been replaced by modern versions. Today, there is a variety of pens to choose from, depending on the specific needs.
The fountain pen was introduced in the 1880s which uses liquid ink. It has a built in reservoir for ink, known as the cartridge. The cartridge is refillable, which allows the pen to be used for a longer period of time. The flexible nib at the end is ideal for fancy writing, although it requires skill and care.
On the other hand, ball point is a pen which is perfect for everyday use. It consists of a ball at the end point of the nib. Moreover, the ink inside the ball point pens is oil-based which makes it easy in use. It has affordable price and can be used for a longer time because of the sufficient amount of its ink. The ink is oil-based so it is quite sticky and non-erasable. However, now erasable variety is also available in the market. With the advent of ball point pens, the use of fountain pens is decreased to a greater extent.
Next to ball point pen is the roller ball pen. Although it is designed in the same way as that of the ball point but its ink is water-based. It also looks like gel. It works on different surfaces but its writing quality on paper is the best. It moves smoothly on the surface of the paper. The only shortcoming of this pen is the limited life of its ink.
In 1960s, a pen having fibrous tip was invented. This pen was named as fibre pen due to the presence of a fibrous tip. It is available in many sizes ranging from small to large depending upon the uses. The small size is made such that it makes writing easier. The medium size of the fibre pen helps in colouring while the large size is especially designed for children use. The ink of this pen can be washed away. On the other hand, there are varieties having permanent and non-permanent inks.
Recently, gel pens have been introduced in the market. They were launched in the year 1995, but have gained a lot of recognition since then. It has several varieties including perfumed and shimmered ones. They comprise coloured ink but this ink is capable of drying earlier than other types of pens.
To decide what type of pen to use, one has to see his/her usage and requirements. For everyday use, a ball point pen is the best option. For students, a roller ball pen would be a better choice as it delivers a better writing experience. For drawing and colouring purposes, felt tip pens and gel pens should be used.