People use ink on paper for many reasons and ink can come from all kinds of writing instruments. Writing can be one's passion or livelihood. It may be used to convey a personal message to someone special, to jot down a quick note or two, or even doodle. When someone uses a retractable fountain pen, it's usually for writing something to give the written word a sense of style and personality that cannot be done with just using a common ballpoint pen.

A fountain pen differs from a quill or a dip pen in such a way that it uses a special container or tube to store its water-based ink. The reservoir for the ink comes in two types: the refillable form and the replaceable type. For the refillable type, refilling can be done using a special syringe or dropper. For the removable type, the reservoirs can be removed and replaced with a pre-filled cartridge.

A retractable fountain pen is also known as a vanishing point retractable pen wherein the nib can be retracted into the pen's body or tube by a twisting action or by a pushing the top button like retractable ball point pens. Today's most pens are made from steel to retain a sharper point. Choosing the correct type of nib is crucial to the writing style. Nibs come in two types: a broad nib and a pointed nib. Let's take a closer look at the two to know its main uses.

The broad nib, also known as the broad and chisel edge, is flat and stiff. Holding the pen at an even angle to the horizontal should be used at all times in order to achieve the desired kind of lettering. The variety of the stroke, either thin or thick, can be adjusted by the writer by changing the direction of the strokes.

With a sharper point, the pointed nib comes in two types: flexed and unflexed. Pressured is applied to the nib to make either thin or thick lines. To create thinner lines less pressure is exerted so as not to widen the nib slits and by putting emphasis on the upward and sideway strokes. Thicker lines are achieved by adding more pressure on downward strokes. Pointed pens are mostly suitable for sketching, mapping and technical diagrams.

Choosing the right retractable fountain pen to suit one's writing style and type is important. So choose wisely to make the written word really speak out to its readers with verve and panache.