What makes for a good pencil? Actually it is not the writing point. Every pencil does a fairly good job of writing. It is the quality of the eraser that makes for a good pencil. I hate erasers that smudge instead of effectively performing their intended function. I stopped using pencils a long time ago. I only write with pens. Not because I don’t make any mistakes . . . but because I like the flow of the ink and the permanent nature of the recording. But I understand the desire of many to use pencils — especially in light of the opportunity to erase and make corrections. If your erasure is negated by smudging, that is a major frustration.
Pet Peeve #30: Erasers that Smudge
