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Numbers and letters on the sides of some pencils (Art & Drafting pencils) is used to signify the type of lead that it contains, or more specifically the hardness of that lead. The higher the number/letter combination, the harder the lead. Conversely, the lower the number/letter combination, the softer the lead. The typical pencil (#2 pencil) contains HB Grade lead. PencilPages.com notes (from The Pencil Hardness Test); "The hardest is a 9H, followed by 8H, 7H, 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, and H. F is the middle of the hardness scale; then comes HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, and 9B, which is the softest. Another grading method uses numbers; the equivalents would be #1=B, #2=HB, #2-1/2=F, #3=H, and #4=2H." The H represents hardness and the B represents blackness.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThere are many more pencils than just #2; these are just the most common because they are the standard for writing. Generally the ones you find in most office supply stores and such are 2B. The letter tells you how whether the lead is hard or soft (B or H) and the number refers to the grade of the lead (the higher the number, the more extremely soft or hard it is). Softer pencils make thicker lines that are easier to smudge or erase. If you want to find pencils besides 2B, look in an art supply store or online.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agobecause the H means the pencil is hard and B means the pencil is soft.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoit tells you how big the pencil lead stick is a number 2 is thiner than a number 6
pick up ones with different numbers and you will see the difference
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Why is a pencil called a pencil?
The word pencil comes from the Latin word pencillus which means "little tail." Before the pencil, was a quill pen, which is a tail of a quill.
Pablo Picasso's first word?
His first word was "piz piz". The Spanish word for pencil is lapiz.
If there is a number two pencil is there a number three pencil?
That would depend if the pencil were an H or a B. Artist pencils are identified with a number and a letter. H is for hard. A 6H pencil would be harder than a 4H pencil. B is for soft. A 6B pencil would be softer than a 4B pencil.
What is a six letter word in the word pencil?
6-letter wordscilice, clinic, icicle, inclip, lippen, nellie, nielli, nipple, pencel, pencil, penile, picnic, pinene, pippin
Is a pencil made of matter?
The "lead" in a number two pencil is graphite. Because it is the color of lead, it is called that...but it's actually graphite, a lubricant. So if you get your zipper stuck, draw on it with a number two pencil..it works!
What is a good sentence for the word pencil?
I needed a number 2 pencil. Stella penciled the appointment into her datebook. The pencil was chewed on. I lost my only pencil.
How many ways can you rearrange the letters in the word pencil?
The number of permutations of the letters PENCIL is 6 factorial, or 720.
Is pencil compound word?
Pencil is not a compound word. If you separated it you would get pen/cil. Cil is not a word, So pencil is not a compound word.
Is pencil a compound word?
Pencil is not a compound word. If you separated it you would get pen/cil. Cil is not a word, So pencil is not a compound word.
Is a penis another word for a pencil?
The word pencil comes from the word penis
What part of speech is the word pencil?
The word 'pencil' is a noun and a verb.The noun 'pencil' (pencils) is a word for a writing instrument.The verb 'pencil' (pencils, penciling, penciled) is to mark, draw, or write with with a pencil.
What is the French word for pencil?
The French word for pencil is crayonle crayon
How do you say the word pencil in Spanish?
The word for pencil in Spanish is "lápiz".
What word is right pencil eraser or eraser pencil?
pencil earser
Why is a pencil called a pencil?
The word pencil comes from the Latin word pencillus which means "little tail." Before the pencil, was a quill pen, which is a tail of a quill.
Pablo Picasso's first word?
His first word was "piz piz". The Spanish word for pencil is lapiz.
What is a synonym for pencil?
Nothing!!!!!!!!! There is no synonym for the word Pencil.
