Pencil Sharpener

tools · writing · everyday inventions

Shaves the wood. A pencil sharpener has a small, sharp blade inside that carefully removes thin layers of wood and graphite from the pencil's tip until it forms a fine point for writing.

Manual or electric. Some sharpeners work by hand, where you twist the pencil while holding it steady, while electric sharpeners do all the work with a motor that spins the blade automatically.

Catches the mess. Most sharpeners have a container or casing around the blade to catch all the tiny wood shavings and graphite dust, so they don't scatter all over your desk.

Precise cutting angle. The blade inside a sharpener is angled just right to create the perfect cone shape on the pencil point, making it ideal for writing neatly.

Makes writing better. A sharp pencil point lets you write more precisely and neatly than a dull one, so a good sharpener is actually pretty important for schoolwork and drawing.