Do pens have caps or lids?

[EmilyG]

When I was in 6th grade, I called the top of a pen a ‘‘lid.’’ My teacher (who hated me anyways) corrected me and told me it was called a ‘‘cap.’’ I said it could also be called a lid, but the teacher seemed to insist it was only called a cap. Most of the class seemed to agree with the teacher.

So, Dopers, what do you call the thing that goes over a pen when not in use?

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

I’ve never heard the term ‘lid’ used to refer to any part of a pen.

[DrFidelius]

Cap. Pots and jars have lids.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

Cap.

[Dervorin]

Cap. Lids are for pots and pans, jars, and the like.

[Amateur_Barbarian]

A lid is wide and shallow (unless it’s in a baggie). A cap is deeper and/or narrow. Pens have caps.

Now take that lid off ‘fore I bust a cap in yo’ ass.

[EmilyG]

I guess my family and I are alone in calling the top of a pen the ‘‘lid.’’ Though I do call it a cap sometimes.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@EmilyG

I guess my family and I are alone in calling the top of a pen the ‘‘lid.’’ Though I do call it a cap sometimes.

Maybe it’s a Quebecois thing. Is there a french word that’s a homophone for ‘lid’?

[QuickSilver]

@EmilyG

I guess my family and I are alone in calling the top of a pen the ‘‘lid.’’ Though I do call it a cap sometimes.

Lid. It’s a Montreal thing.

[Maserschmidt]

@EmilyG

I guess my family and I are alone in calling the top of a pen the ‘‘lid.’’ Though I do call it a cap sometimes.

You have Bic on your side!

http://www.cgets.com/BIC-Pen-Lid-Pen-Holder.html?utm_source=google-shopping&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CO3U27WiqLoCFc6j4Aod93wAIA

I’ve heard lid, but I call it a cap.

[SanVito]

@EmilyG

I guess my family and I are alone in calling the top of a pen the ‘‘lid.’’ Though I do call it a cap sometimes.

Not so, get thee to the airport to meet like minds, for we Brits call them lids.

[Cyros]

@SanVito

Not so, get thee to the airport to meet like minds, for we Brits call them lids.

Of course, you also call pens biros, so there just is no accounting for the Brits.

[Siam_Sam]

Pots have lids? No, pot comes in lids.

[Sahirrnee]

I never thought about it but I think I use cap, but I might sometimes use lid.
Anyway, I would know what you meant if you used either of them and I wouldn’t think either word was strange in that context.

[Sahirrnee]

@Siam_Sam

Pots have lids? No, pot comes in lids.

But are they still $15?

Damn I’m old

[SanVito]

@Cyros

Of course, you also call pens biros, so there just is no accounting for the Brits.

All biros are pens, but not all pens are biros.

What do you call biros? Hmm?

[Thudlow_Boink]

@EmilyG

When I was in 6th grade, I called the top of a pen a ‘‘lid.’’

@EmilyG

I guess my family and I are alone in calling the top of a pen the ‘‘lid.’’

Wait a minute—what to you mean by the “top” of a pen? The cap goes over the tip of the pen—the part you write with—which is at the bottom while the pen is in use.

That’s probably why I don’t use the word “lid” with pens: because a lid is something that goes on the top of something, and pens don’t have an unambiguous top.

[Suburban_Plankton]

@SanVito

All biros are pens, but not all pens are biros.

What do you call biros? Hmm?

We generally just call them “pens”, or if we’re feeling particularly descriptive, “ballpoint pens”.

[SanVito]

@Thudlow_Boink

Wait a minute—what to you mean by the “top” of a pen? The cap goes over the tip of the pen—the part you write with—which is at the bottom while the pen is in use.

That’s probably why I don’t use the word “lid” with pens: because a lid is something that goes on the top of something, and pens don’t have an unambiguous top.

But but… caps go on top too? To cap it all off and all that.

[eschereal]

@SanVito

All biros are pens, but not all pens are biros.

What do you call biros? Hmm?

“Biro” is a brand name, like in US, we would use “Davenport” to mean just any sofa (not so much these days). Or “Kleenex”, there is no substitute for that. But generally, we just say “pen”.