Fountain Pens vs. Ballpoint Pens – Which is Better

When people think of pens, they naturally think of biros, also known as ballpoint pens. But, if you talk about pens to someone who loves pens, the fountain pen would sure to come up in the conversation at some point.

Fountain pens vs. ballpoint pens, which is better? For regular or everyday writing use, the ballpoint pen is the better option. If you want to be more stylish, such as a letter to a special someone, then the fountain pen would be the great choice.

Of course, these different pens have their specific purposes, although they are both made for writing. What you want to write and how you want to write will ultimately depend on which pen is the right one.

How to Decide Which is the One

To help you decide which pen is better, the main factor to consider is what these pens do or what you can use them for. Another factor you can think about is how much you are into pens.

A good example is if you’re a pen fanatic, then you’d no doubt use both pens, so you might just be after their benefits to know when to use them. On the other hand, if you’re new to the world of pens and want to get started, then there may be a chance that you’re torn between the two options.

Fountain Pen Benefits

The fountain pen is very different to the ballpoint pen. In fact, it only shares its similarities with the dip and quill pens. What makes the fountain pen different from these two is the ink it uses and, of course, it’s internal ink storage.

Aside from pen nerds or curious individuals taking on the challenge of learning how to write with a fountain pen, as it is much different to write with, its main use is found through individuals wanting to express or personalize their handwriting style.

Also, some fountain pen nibs are versatile in shape or form, which allows you to give your own way of writing. Additionally, the greatest benefit of a fountain pen is its ability to adjust to pressure and pace of your writing.

To many people, this is what makes them choose fountain pens over ballpoint pens. It can be a common thing to get cramps or for your fingers to get tired quickly using a ballpoint as you have to press a little harder to write. With a fountain pen, this factor is taken away.

Its design allows the ink to freely flow as soon as you begin to write. However, to make this possible or to have full effectiveness, the fountain pen must be held at a 45-degree angle, otherwise, it would increase the chance for the ink to flow unevenly.

One more thing to add about the fountain pen that pen lovers would definitely agree on is the feel and look that these pens give off. If you want to look professional or exert your passion for pens, then you won’t go wrong with this choice of pen. As a matter of fact, this type of pen is even used for signing important documents, such as contracts or special letters.

Pros

• Handwriting skill development
• Decorative font
• Personalized writing style
• Easy grip and smooth ink flow with practice
• Refillable ink cartridge
• Professional and sophisticated look

Cons

• Requires practice
• Requires proper holding
• Ink may flow unevenly and can run out quicker, as well as takes longer to dry
• Unable to write on all surfaces
• Pricey
• May not be the ideal everyday pen

Ballpoint Pen Benefits

What most people love about ballpoint pens is that they’re very cheap compared to the fountain pen and they are easily disposable, although this may be a downside to some people and a plus side for the long-lasting and refillable ink in fountain pens.

Another great benefit with ballpoint pens is the speed the ink dries. The ink is typically oil-based compared to the fountain pen’s water-based ink, which is a little runnier and takes longer to dry.

However, the water-based ink can take longer to fade or be dissolved compared to the oil-based. Another upside to the metal ball tip method is that it uses less ink and can eventually last longer as with the quick flowing ink with fountain pens.

Lastly, ballpoint pens were originally invented because fountain pens couldn’t write on hard surfaces, such as wood and other harder paper materials that were slowly being introduced. This was the result of the idea of ballpoint pens and is still being used in this way today.

In summary, the ballpoint pen is the perfect choice if you just want a pen to write with, whether for school or for work as it is easier to maintain and much quicker to use (not to mention can be used on any surface). Furthermore, anyone can use ballpoint pens as opposed to the fountain pen that many would fail on their first few goes.

Pros

• Cheap and disposable
• Fast-drying ink and last longer
• Easy to write with and for anyone to use
• Able to write on hard surfaces
• Ideal for everyday use

Cons

• Lack of writing style or personalization
• Lack of creativity or expressive handwriting
• Doesn’t require skills
• For some, not stylish enough, therefore not typically used in professional settings

The Verdict

Having knowledge of what each of these different, yet similar pens can do and are useful for can certainly help in the decision of which is better. Not only that but knowing their benefits can help you better decide what to get in the future if you ever need to write something specific.

Having said that, maybe the question isn’t so much as to which pen is better, but rather which is the better choice. This different perspective will definitely make it easier for you to know what to purchase at the time you want their specific uses, thus making the most of their unique features.

In a world that’s slowly moving away from the art and beauty of handwriting, it is even more important to understand the usefulness of pens, as well as the creativity they can offer every level of writer.