Anyone who has ever taken an SAT has had the sacredness of the No. 2 pencil drilled into them. But what makes a No. 2 pencil what it is? What separates it from a No. 1 or No. 4? And what makes a ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They’re at the top of the list for every back-to-school shopper: pencils. And not just any pencil will do—they’ve got to be No. 2 pencils. But, what the heck is a No. 2 pencil? And ...

Almost every syllabus, teacher, and standardized test requires a No. 2 pencil. Are there other choices out there? Indeed there are. Pencil makers manufacture Nos. 1, 2, 2.5, 3, and 4 pencils—and ...

Most of us pick up pencils—and lose them—without giving them a second thought. Pencils are a bit more interesting than you might, think, though. Here are a few not-so-frequently asked questions about ...

The whole point of a mechanical pencil is to have perfect sharpness forever. Yet without precise engineering and build quality, the standard slender leads are doomed to constant breakages. This ...

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Melanie Pinola I’ll never forget the first mechanical pencil I tried to use.