Best pen for essay writing?

17

May sound funny, but i've read that it is worth splashing out a few bob on some good pens that will give you less of an ache in the exam for essay writing subjects, but i have no clue what type of pens these are lol, is it a bog standard fountain? or what ? lol someone with some essay writing experience please share, the hand ache really slows me down :p:

Thanks

Reply 1

kellywood_5

17

I'd never write with a fountain pen in an exam. I never use them anyway because I hate them (and they're expensive) but they're so messy and likely to be even more so when you're writing quickly. I usually prefer ink pens, but in an exam they'd be quite messy as well, so I just stick to a ballpoint/biro.

Reply 2

Beenybabe

i always write in fountain pen so thats what i use in exams - i just use a bog standard Parker as i find the really cheap ones too scratchy, they are comfortable to write with and i find my handwriting is more legible in fountain pen than biro when im writing under exam conditions.

If you want to try one just get a normal parker - the ones that are about £7, dont bother splashy out on a really fancy pen and start using it as your normal pen now - just picking a fountain pen up purely to do your exams wont do you any advantages.

Reply 3

HMSChocolate

13

it really does kinda of depend on what paper your school provides but I find that fountain pens are way way way too messy and if you're writing fast you might destroy the tip.

Ball point pens with cushion things at where you grip them work best for me.

Reply 4

Mos Def

OP

17

hmm, yeah those grippy pens are quite nice actually! ... yeah i have to get used to the pens before i use it in an exam...

Reply 5

Carl

14

Reply 6

*River

15

Biros with those rubbery finger grip things - if you get clammy hands your fingers don't slip, and the ink itself doesn't smudge. And they're cheep so it doesn't matter if you lose them.

Reply 7

Kolya

17

I like to use nice fountain pens. Try them out in the shop to find which one feels most comfortable to write with. Regarding expense, if you think how much time you spend in school writing, and then how much time you spend writing homework, it does not make it look too expensive for how much you use it. :smile:

I do not understand the comment about it being messy; unless you forgot to refill it before the exam, a good fountain pen is definitely not more messy than any other pen, such as a biro or ballpoint.

Reply 8

Mos Def

OP

17

price is not an issue as id spend around £20ish as long as it gets me a good grade and less hurting lol

Reply 9

ice_cube

17

basically if you are writing fast and writing a lot, your hand is going to cramp up and hurt no matter what pen you use. I used to have several different ones all in the same colour, with different thickness grips, and whenever my hand used to start twitching I changed pens. Just the whole 5 second action of changing and settling into a different position used to relax my hand and stop the muscles tensing. (Can you tell I did 4 essay subjects?!)

Reply 10

Kolya

17

Your hand will not cramp up if you write with your arm instead of your fingers or hand...

Reply 11

Beenybabe

HMSChocolate

it really does kinda of depend on what paper your school provides but I find that fountain pens are way way way too messy and if you're writing fast you might destroy the tip.

Ball point pens with cushion things at where you grip them work best for me.

Well you always get the same paper in exams and i find it's much nicer to write on in fountain pen, i really do like using a fountain pen and i am so used to them that i actually get messier using biro's - i tend to end up drawing all over myself.

I suppose if you get given poor quality paper at school then the ink can seep through but as we have to provide our own paper at school i always get WhSmith paper which is lovely to write on in fountain pen.

It depends on what kind of pen you prefer i find it easier writing with the cheaper plastic ones as the nice ones with the metal caps etc are a little heavy in an exam. Go for either a Parker Vector (seen below) or a Reflex which has a wider barrell and has a soft grip/ "cushion thing" which means it is more comfortable to write with for a long period of time.

If you find you hold a biro or similar quite tightly then going for a wider barrelled fountain pen will reduce cramp as your hands not so tightly closed.

Reply 12

Mos Def

OP

17

Carl

i have that pen, black version, kinda scratchy though, trying to get used to it

Reply 13

Mos Def

OP

17

Beenybabe

If you find you hold a biro or similar quite tightly then going for a wider barrelled fountain pen will reduce cramp as your hands not so tightly closed.

yes, i grip very tight, and i press down hard also ... hmm i'll buy that actually and test it out, it's not cartrdige ink though is it? it's more biro-ish...

@ ice_cube, no you don't seem like you had 4 essay subjects :p:

, damn thats quite excessive, but lol i might try that if worse comes to worse when i start my exam practising, 3 hours stragiht :eek:

Reply 14

ice_cube

17

There was one day for mocks I sat 8 hours of essay exams. Not a happy bunny by the end of it!

Reply 15

Beenybabe

T_Bag

yes, i grip very tight, and i press down hard also ... hmm i'll buy that actually and test it out, it's not cartrdige ink though is it? it's more biro-ish...

well i was suggesting the fountain pen that uses cartridge ink but you can get it in rollerball(more flowy ink than a biro and it has a lid rather than apush button) or ballpoint(like a biro), its up to you what you prefer to use really - a Parker ballpoint is nicer than a normal biro (and its refillable) but i find the rollerballs a bit messy sometimes as the ink is quite wet.

You just have to choose between cartridge ink fountain pens and biro/ballpoint.

Here have a look theonlinepencompany.com...

Reply 16

Carl

14

T_Bag

i have that pen, black version, kinda scratchy though, trying to get used to it

Mine's a translucent dark red (I believe they call it "Bordeaux").

Reply 17

Mos Def

OP

17

Juno

The Stabilo S Move. Tis specially wonky so it's shaped like your hand. It's the only pen I can write in. And it comes in pink.

The Stabilo S Move, that looks funky!!!, hoewver the tip of the pen looks like to me its going to be scratchy, is it? need something smooth...

Beenybabe

well i was suggesting the fountain pen that uses cartridge ink but you can get it in rollerball(more flowy ink than a biro and it has a lid rather than apush button) or ballpoint(like a biro), its up to you what you prefer to use really - a Parker ballpoint is nicer than a normal biro (and its refillable) but i find the rollerballs a bit messy sometimes as the ink is quite wet.

You just have to choose between cartridge ink fountain pens and biro/ballpoint.

Here have a look theonlinepencompany.com...

i'll buy one of them and try it out

Reply 18

vector

15

As someone who sells all types of pens, I would recommend a fountain pen. I've always used them, and they give a really nice style. The stabilo 's move easy pens are also very comfortable to write with, but I just don't like the way they write to be honest.

Reply 19

PinkMobilePhone

Chat Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

22

I've never even thought about it before.
I just use the cheap biros you get about a zillion of in 1 pack.

My only worry is whether or not they will run out of ink (so I take lots just to make sure) :smile:

Best pen for essay writing?

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated