The Ballpoint Pen

A ballpoint pen is a smooth writing tool. At its tip is a tiny metal ball. When you write, the ball rolls and picks up ink from inside the pen. The ink then goes onto the paper. Ballpoint pens are cheap and last a long time.

The Inventors

A Hungarian man named Laszlo Biro invented the modern ballpoint pen. He made it in the 1930s with help from his brother. They wanted a pen that did not smudge or leak. The pen became a big hit in the 1940s. In some countries, people still call pens biros.

An old drawing from the first ballpoint pen design.
An old drawing from the first ballpoint pen design. (Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons)

How It Works

The ink in a ballpoint pen is thick like paste. This keeps it from dripping out. As you move the pen, the ball spins and coats itself with ink. The ink then sticks to the paper. The ink dries very fast so it does not smear.

Fun Facts

  • The Bic Cristal is the best-selling pen in the world.
  • Ballpoint pens can write on many things, even wet paper.
  • Laszlo Biro got the idea from watching newspaper ink dry fast.

Did You Know?

More than 100 billion ballpoint pens have been sold since they were invented.