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

From:Barry Garcia <barry_garcia@...>
Date:Monday, June 9, 2003, 11:10
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.

Replies

John Cowan <cowan@...>
Garth Wallace <gwalla@...>