Re: OT More pens (was Re: Phoneme winnowing continues)

Constructed Languages List <CONLANG@...> writes:
>Why they're called lead is beyond me.


I call them "pencil refills" because I use a .7 MM graphite rod refil in
my mechanical pencil. You never have to sharpen these and the tips don't
break off leaving a useless stump. Plus the line is always the same.

But, i digress, some of my friends call them graphites, since well, that's
what they are, graphite.

And as john said, it's cultural lag. I mean pencils were still being
called "lead pencils" when i was a little kid and they were already made
of graphite then (and i assume even 30 years prior). I think some tests
i've taken have specified a "Graphite pencil" as a required implement.

Oh and if you ever get a piece of lead, it does work well to draw with.
It's soft enough it will leave marks on paper.

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