# Obtaining Red Pencils. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309 "2015-08-20T01:55:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/1 "2015-08-20T01:55:15Z")
Why don’t they seem to make, or at least widely sell, red lead pencils anymore? I certain still have use for them. But I can’t find them anywhere now. Why not? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/2 "2015-08-20T01:58:01Z")
[http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb\_sb\_ss\_c\_0\_11?url=search-alias%3Doffice-products&field-keywords=red+lead+pencils&sprefix=red+lead+pe%2Caps%2C213](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_11?url=search-alias%3Doffice-products&field-keywords=red+lead+pencils&sprefix=red+lead+pe%2Caps%2C213) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/3 "2015-08-20T02:13:40Z")
Thank you for the link, **DrDeth** :). But actually, I already assumed I could probably get it on line (although, I’ve heard that is not the most secure way of doing things). But my question is more general than that, though. Why don’t they sell it anymore stores? In other words, what gives? And thank you again, to **DrDeth** and all who reply:) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/4 "2015-08-20T02:13:51Z")
> **[\- Office Depot](https://www.officedepot.com/catalog/catalogSku.do?id=379442&sessionId=7OtL7IylmQD_yf8nRX6TeQV&cmPredSearchABTestElemId=Three%20Image%20Zone&cmPredSearchABTestElemCategory=Predictive%20Search%20Complete%7CNo%20monetate%20test%20running&cmPredSearchABTestAttr30=Search%20Suggestions%7C%7C%7CThree%20Image%20Zone%7C%7C&cmPredSearchABTestAttr31=red%20lead%20pencil)** > **[Pentel Lead Refill, 0.5mm, 12/Leads, 3/Pack (PPR5BP3-K6) | Staples](https://www.staples.com/Pentel-Red-Drafting-Lead-Refills-5mm-36-Leads/product_651398)** > > Get Pentel Lead Refill, 0.5mm, 12/Leads, 3/Pack (PPR5BP3-K6) fast and with free shipping on qualifying orders at Staples. Are you searching dedicated office supply stores? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/5 "2015-08-20T03:22:13Z")
Check teacher supply stores, too. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/6 "2015-08-20T06:53:56Z")
I saw packages of 10 or 12 of them in some dollar store recently. They’re out there. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/7 "2015-08-20T07:08:58Z")
@Jim, Honestly, this is making me mad. If you can’t find red pencils where you are, and have to come here, reputably the most brainy of bbs’s ever, you do not deserve red pencils. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/8 "2015-08-20T12:31:57Z")
Art supply store ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/9 "2015-08-20T13:53:17Z")
Crayola Colored Pencils, Style # 68-4012. Manufactured with recycled plastics and solar electricity, so you won’t be destroying the galaxy by buying them. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/10 "2015-08-20T15:01:28Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Superhal](#): > > @Jim, Honestly, this is making me mad. If you can’t find red pencils where you are, and have to come here, reputably the most brainy of bbs’s ever, you do not deserve red pencils. If you have a problem with a poster, take it to the Pit. These types of comments have no place in GQ. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/11 "2015-08-20T17:14:33Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > @Jim, Honestly, this is making me mad. If you can’t find red pencils where you are, and have to come here, reputably the most brainy of bbs’s ever, you do not deserve red pencils. I looked at Walmart & Target and the local $1 store, and nada, so the OP has a point. My SO sez they are at the art store. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/12 "2015-08-20T19:34:41Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Thank you for the link, **DrDeth** :). But actually, I already assumed I could probably get it on line (although, I’ve heard that is not the most secure way of doing things). > > But my question is more general than that, though. Why don’t they sell it anymore stores? In other words, what gives? > > And thank you again, to **DrDeth** and all who reply:) I associate red pencils with grading and editing, much of which is now accomplished digitally. The rest of the story is probably simple supply/demand; brick and mortar retailers don’t sell a lot of them so they stop carrying them and opt to fill that space with better selling items. There was probably a time when you could buy a typewriter at Target or Walmart, too, but I doubt they stock them these days. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/13 "2015-08-20T22:57:01Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Art supply store This. And you can have your choice of a kazillion shades of red. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/14 "2015-08-20T23:39:40Z")
In my experience, grading and editing are more often done with pen, not with pencil, and red pens are easily found. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/15 "2015-08-21T02:08:16Z")
Didn’t they go to purple ink to avoid labeling the precious little darlings with the stigma of red? Or was that just a fad I heard about in the news in 1999? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/16 "2015-08-21T02:43:27Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Didn’t they go to purple ink to avoid labeling the precious little darlings with the stigma of red? > > Or was that just a fad I heard about in the news in 1999? My principal tried to get us to do it, but I said that the parents who were upset about all the red on the math papers would be just as upset about all the purple or green or whatever on the papers. Fewer mistakes, fewer colored marks. But I know a lot of teachers who switched. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/17 "2015-08-21T02:44:31Z")
I was told in an education class not to use red ink for grading, because students dread red ink. Of course, given that the reason they dread red ink is because it’s used for grading, I think it’s a load of hogwash. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/18 "2015-08-21T03:37:17Z")
Red also used to be used for a lot of office work, now done on computers. Ink for account books, pencils for spreadsheets, where you had to erase and correct the numbers you were working on. And my boss (who had a wicked sense of humour) explained to me that if you wanted to prank an auditor, you just pulled out your green pen… ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-red-pencils/728309/19 "2015-08-21T12:18:49Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > …I already assumed I could probably get it on line (although, I’ve heard that is not the most secure way of doing things). > … When the NSA finds out you are buying red pencils, woe is you. 😉