Mar 30, 2025
Despite being called ‘lead pencils’, they contain graphite, not actual lead. The confusion dates back to the 1500s when a large graphite deposit was discovered in England and mistaken for lead due to its similar appearance.
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A standard pencil contains enough graphite to write approximately 45,000 words or draw a line nearly 56 kilometres long. That’s why they’ve been a staple for writers, students, and artists for centuries.
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Unlike pens, which rely on gravity for ink flow, pencils work in space. Astronauts used them before special space pens were developed. However, NASA eventually switched to pens to avoid floating graphite shavings in zero gravity.
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Early pencils didn’t come with erasers. People used bread crumbs to remove mistakes before rubber erasers became common in the 18th century. The first pencil with an attached eraser was patented in 1858 by Hymen Lipman.
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The world’s most common pencil colour, yellow, originated in the 1890s when manufacturers wanted to signal high-quality graphite. Yellow was associated with royalty and prestige, making it an attractive choice for premium pencils.
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Pencils date back to the 16th century, but their concept is even older. Ancient Romans used a stylus made of lead to write on wax tablets, inspiring the later development of graphite-based pencils.
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The world’s largest pencil, built in New York, measures over 23 metres long and weighs over 8,000 kilograms. It was created to celebrate the significance of this everyday writing tool in education and creativity.
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Unlike pens that dry out, pencils can last for years if stored properly. A single pencil can outlive multiple pens, making them a more sustainable and long-lasting writing tool.
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Graphite, the main component of pencils, is made of carbon—the same element as diamonds. Under immense heat and pressure, graphite can transform into diamond, proving that even the humble pencil has a connection to precious gems.
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Unlike regular pencils, coloured pencils contain wax- or oil-based pigments instead of graphite. This difference makes them smoother for blending but unsuitable for erasable writing like traditional graphite pencils.
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