# What is your favorite school/office supply? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 12, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574 "2003-08-12T03:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/21 "2014-01-23T21:03:13Z")
3"x 3" brightly colored Post-It notes. I must have at least 30 in various colors tacked up on the board in front of me. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/22 "2014-01-23T21:15:33Z")
The Pilot Varsity, disposable fountain pens. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/23 "2014-01-23T21:36:50Z")
Legal pads and a well constructed black ball point pen. That’s how work gets done. When I was a kid, I was jealous at the girls with their fancy Pentel R.S.V.P pens. Don’t know why. They looked so classy. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/24 "2014-01-24T04:57:06Z")
Papermate Sharpwriter mechanical pencils for modeling and green Bic Pro+ pens for grading. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/25 "2014-01-24T06:35:40Z")
Stapler removers. Nothing like monster fights ro relieve stress… ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/26 "2014-01-24T06:49:03Z")
3x5 cards are nifty; they organize my life. I also use a lot of sheet protectors and 3 ring binders. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/27 "2014-01-24T12:12:54Z")
A4 lined writing tablets, especially recycled paper. I used to bring them back to the US with me. A4 is the paper ratio of the gods; far, far superior to the US 8.5 x 11" or whatever it is. Now I miss Post-its; you can get them in Britain, but they cost a fortune compared to the US. Mead has also started selling Big Chief writing pads again, but Amazon won’t ship to the UK. I used to love writing drafts on them with a cheap, blue, medium-point pen. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/28 "2014-01-24T13:21:54Z")
Whatever I can steal from the work supply locker. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/29 "2014-01-24T13:26:24Z")
Graph paper. It’s so tidy and organized! ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/30 "2014-01-24T13:53:12Z")
> [@compositejoe](#): > > Mine was these Pelican erasers when I was at infant school: [http://www.papelaria.com.pt/WebRoot/ce\_pt/Shops/960427445/5189/1041/151F/6D6F/E0A5/C0A8/8008/E891/Borracha-pelikan-SP30.jpg](http://www.papelaria.com.pt/WebRoot/ce_pt/Shops/960427445/5189/1041/151F/6D6F/E0A5/C0A8/8008/E891/Borracha-pelikan-SP30.jpg) An eleven year old necrobump to post about erasers? Cool. I was at Staples this week. I got some graphpaper composition books for a buck each. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/31 "2014-01-24T15:18:11Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > Graph paper. It’s so tidy and organized! Logarithmic graph paper is cooler still. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/32 "2014-01-24T15:33:57Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > Whatever I can steal from the work supply locker. 😛 I was a big office supply thief back around sixteen years ago. These days, honestly, I’m more likely to bring things _in_. It’s easier than asking someone to order it. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/33 "2014-01-24T16:11:17Z")
zombie or no what’s paper without a pencil? how can you pick? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/34 "2014-01-24T16:21:57Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Logarithmic graph paper is cooler still. You think that’s cool? Check out some Weibull distribution paper, with built-in beta estimator! Tough to find, but cool. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/35 "2014-01-24T16:31:29Z")
The compass with the really, really sharp point. Good for zombies! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/36 "2014-01-24T16:40:40Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > You think that’s cool? Check out some Weibull distribution paper, with built-in beta estimator! Tough to find, but cool. Whoa. I was gonna link to a picture, but it’s way too graphic. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/37 "2014-01-24T17:04:21Z")
Packing tape. … I have lots. I do not ship things. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/38 "2014-01-24T17:13:52Z")
I love it all! I love a heavy smooth paper, with a good mechanical pencil or fountain pen, though I do have a fun [gelpen](http://www.amazon.com/TEKwriterUSA-Gelwriter-Rotating-100-Count-27131-D/dp/B00B80SOVI/ref=pd_sim_ac_4) set from Christmas a couple years back, and some lovely [fude](http://openkyoto.com/product/lacquer-fude-pen.html) brush markers. I love stuff like the old [trapper-keepers](http://jamesjgrady.com/2012/06/25/1-0-input-accumulate-inspiration/) to sort paperwork into. I like to have hole punched graph paper and ledger paper that can go into the project folders, and those hole punched envelopes for holding receipts … why yes it is the inner accountant in me coming out 😛 I love [drawer units](http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=628&ProductCategory=186§ion=1) for projects - I make little cross stitch and bead christmas ornaments to give people as stocking stuffers, and I can put a project to a drawer and not get the supplies mixed up. Also keeps little kitty paws out of the crafts 😃 And oddly enough, I like my tablet. The touch screen is fun - I am not the greatest artist however it is great for an expanded ebook platform. I think it could be better than a regular textbook because you could load in the book, and have links using the wifi access to the inter or intra net at school, and being able to get vid lectures, or even an interactive face to face vid chat with group members or vid consults with your professor/TA. Granted, an interactive computer ‘class’ would be great with a combination of large screen monitor and smaller adjunct tablet equipped with a whiteboard ability for interaction. But then again, being effectively housebound much of the time and really desiring to go back to college I tend to dream about the future as seen in film or books… ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/39 "2014-01-24T17:29:37Z")
[Bic 4-Color retractable ball point pens.](http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/pens-pencils-markers/pens/ballpoint-pens/product-prod1812001?cm_mmc=Google-_-Feed+-+BIC-_-Pens,+Pencils,+%26+Markers_20671667-_-bic+4-color+retractable+ballpoint_Phrase&002=2590103&004=5378479983&005=43867886463&006=42672288303&007=Search&008=&025=c&026=) I was turned onto them in college as a good way to organize notes, and put together flash cards. I’ve been using them ever sense as a way of organizing thoughts and highlighting important points or headings. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574/40 "2014-01-24T18:16:03Z")
This is my favorite new product. [http://www.sharpie.com/enus/pages/ultra-fine-point-marker.aspx](http://www.sharpie.com/enus/pages/ultra-fine-point-marker.aspx) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-school-office-supply/194574.md?page=3)