Q&A for How to Choose a Pen

Anything that shows up dark and legible. Professors tends to prefer that their students use black or blue ink, as it offers a contrast to the paper and is easier to read. Make sure you have a back up in case the pen you're using malfunctions runs out of ink.

I would suggest whiteout since it's more versatile.

I would suggest using a Bic crystal ball pen or round stick. Other pens, such as a fountain pen, will give you cramps or pain in your fingers if you are trying to write quickly for an exam. Bic ballpoint pens are efficient and cheap though.

Rollerballs generally cost the same as a gel pen or maybe slightly more, although it depends on the quality. As for why they are popular for business use, they look professional and are more likely to work the first time due to their watery ink. However, if signing documents, do not use a rollerball as the watery ink can be erased and washed out, leading to fraud.

Gel ink pens preferable to fountain pens because they write very smoothly, which means you can write a lot faster.

A ballpoint pen is easiest when taking notes because it dries very fast. You might want to stay away from ink gel pens when you need to take notes quickly.

Ballpoint pens write easily and dry fast. You can highlight over them without much smudging, and they are inexpensive.

Felt-tip pens. They provide more control and smudge lesser compared to gel pens. Ballpoint pens do not do well over pencil marks and tend to skip.

The Uni-ball Jetstream RT is the best pen for most people. It's affordable, smooth, and quick to dry, and it won't skip or bleed.

Many people will tell you that Pilot G2's are not good. Better choices include the Pentel Energel, Pentel Client, Parker Vector or Jotter, and the Montblanc Meiserstruck Classique fountain pen.