Sorry to hear that, do you mean the article doesn't contain the advice you were looking for? If so please let us know and we'll see if we can update it when we have time

Sorry to hear that, do you mean the article doesn't contain the advice you were looking for? If so please let us know and we'll see if we can update it when we have time

Hi Jack, yes rollerballs contain liquid ink so they do smudge more easily, but they also produce a darker line and glide more easily across the page.

Hi Jack, yes rollerballs contain liquid ink so they do smudge more easily, but they also produce a darker line and glide more easily across the page.

Possibly - however some left-handers have trained themselves to avoid smudging by writing above or below the line, so it really depends on the user. Many left-handed people will be fine with a rollerball.

Possibly - however some left-handers have trained themselves to avoid smudging by writing above or below the line, so it really depends on the user. Many left-handed people will be fine with a rollerball.

Hi Lola, a Biro is a form of ballpoint pen, with a metal ball writing tip and filled with oil-based ink - so yes, they function in the same way. Hope that answers your question!

Hi Lola, a Biro is a form of ballpoint pen, with a metal ball writing tip and filled with oil-based ink - so yes, they function in the same way. Hope that answers your question!

Hi Juan, it's purely down to personal preferance. We'd probably recommend trying a friend's pen and seeing what you prefer.

Hi Juan, it's purely down to personal preferance. We'd probably recommend trying a friend's pen and seeing what you prefer.

Thanks Elmo, glad you're enjoying the blog!

Thanks Elmo, glad you're enjoying the blog!

Hi Kevin - they're very similar. A rollerball pen is filled with liquid ink whereas gel ink is more viscous. There's very little difference in the feel though and the two systems are mechanically identical, so practically speaking they're more or less the same.

Hi Kevin - they're very similar. A rollerball pen is filled with liquid ink whereas gel ink is more viscous. There's very little difference in the feel though and the two systems are mechanically identical, so practically speaking they're more or less the same.

Hi Ray,

Thank you for the comment. If you are looking for rollerball or ballpoint pen that writes smoothly and has minimal smudging, I would personally recommend a pen with gel ink. Cross rollerball pens come with a gel ink refill and Parker also make a gel ink ballpoint refill. Here are two links that will point you in the right direction:

http://www.penheaven.co.uk/pen-brands/cross-pens/cross-rollerball-pens

http://www.penheaven.co.uk/parker-gel-ink-refill-medium-point

Best regards,

Przemek

Hi Ray,

Thank you for the comment. If you are looking for rollerball or ballpoint pen that writes smoothly and has minimal smudging, I would personally recommend a pen with gel ink. Cross rollerball pens come with a gel ink refill and Parker also make a gel ink ballpoint refill. Here are two links that will point you in the right direction:

http://www.penheaven.co.uk/pen-brands/cross-pens/cross-rollerball-pens

http://www.penheaven.co.uk/parker-gel-ink-refill-medium-point

Best regards,

Przemek

Thanks for your comment. If you'd like to write faster we'd recommend either a rollerball pen, a gel ink ballpoint refill or a fountain pen, as these would have the smoothest ink flow. In regards to a finding a broad nib that isn't too broad, you might want to try a Parker Sonnet fountain pen with a broad nib.

We would also highly recommend reading 'Improve Your Handwriting: Teach Yourself' by Rosemary Sassoon. It is available from Amazon and has excellent reviews.

Thanks for your comment. If you'd like to write faster we'd recommend either a rollerball pen, a gel ink ballpoint refill or a fountain pen, as these would have the smoothest ink flow. In regards to a finding a broad nib that isn't too broad, you might want to try a Parker Sonnet fountain pen with a broad nib.

We would also highly recommend reading 'Improve Your Handwriting: Teach Yourself' by Rosemary Sassoon. It is available from Amazon and has excellent reviews.

Thanks for your comment. I am not aware of any rollerball pens which have a broad tip. Gel ink pens have good ink flow and if you are looking for something smoother, I would recommend a Lamy Fountain pen with a broad nib. I use a Lamy Fountain pen on a daily basis and have never had a problem with leakage.

Are you still looking? I thought if mention that the stigma of leaking with fountain pens only applies to pens before World War II, all modern pens have as much possibility of leakage as any other pen. Meaning zero unless you throw it a wall several times or something. The only mess possible is spilling an ink bottle, but there are cartridges to buy anyway which are no mess.

Modern fountain pens don't leak unless really abused as long you don't take them with you on an airplane or go mountain climbing. The cheap Japanese fountain pens are very neat and tidy but, I find the feeds on the double broads to be a bit stingy unless your write slowly. For a very heavy line with a fountain pen, the European nibs lay a fatter line that a similar Japanese pen too. Waterman Experts seem to be a good mid-tier entry point for me with their nice nibs, brass body (for weight) and, modest price when gently used on the second hand market. Shaeffer Preludes are nice as well at $20~25USD.

Thanks for your comment. I am not aware of any rollerball pens which have a broad tip. Gel ink pens have good ink flow and if you are looking for something smoother, I would recommend a Lamy Fountain pen with a broad nib. I use a Lamy Fountain pen on a daily basis and have never had a problem with leakage.

Are you still looking? I thought if mention that the stigma of leaking with fountain pens only applies to pens before World War II, all modern pens have as much possibility of leakage as any other pen. Meaning zero unless you throw it a wall several times or something. The only mess possible is spilling an ink bottle, but there are cartridges to buy anyway which are no mess.

Modern fountain pens don't leak unless really abused as long you don't take them with you on an airplane or go mountain climbing. The cheap Japanese fountain pens are very neat and tidy but, I find the feeds on the double broads to be a bit stingy unless your write slowly. For a very heavy line with a fountain pen, the European nibs lay a fatter line that a similar Japanese pen too. Waterman Experts seem to be a good mid-tier entry point for me with their nice nibs, brass body (for weight) and, modest price when gently used on the second hand market. Shaeffer Preludes are nice as well at $20~25USD.

We haven't heard of this before. Rollerball ink is usually water-based, so I don't know if it is a good idea to use it on official documents. I would recommend a ballpoint pen or a fountain pen with carbon ink.

I don't think the problem is with ballpoint pens vs roller ball pens...it's the color. Yes most governments want you to use blue ballpoint pen for documents...and here is why. If you make a copy of a document, it always comes out black. They want to make sure it is the original document, and not a copy. Therefore, it's not the type of ink pen you use, but rather the color of ink. In most cases they want it in blue. ... which is sort of strange because blue ink doesn't copy that well. But leave it to the government! :)

We haven't heard of this before. Rollerball ink is usually water-based, so I don't know if it is a good idea to use it on official documents. I would recommend a ballpoint pen or a fountain pen with carbon ink.

I don't think the problem is with ballpoint pens vs roller ball pens...it's the color. Yes most governments want you to use blue ballpoint pen for documents...and here is why. If you make a copy of a document, it always comes out black. They want to make sure it is the original document, and not a copy. Therefore, it's not the type of ink pen you use, but rather the color of ink. In most cases they want it in blue. ... which is sort of strange because blue ink doesn't copy that well. But leave it to the government! :)

The best inexpensive (ie 'cheap') rollerball that I've found is the Vision Elite by Uni-ball. It has an internal ink reservoir just like a fountain pen which helps regulate changes in pressure. You can pack a Uni-ball rollerball in your checked luggage and never worry about it exploding. I live in Colorado at 4,560 feet but I have visit job sites sometimes 10,000 feet and higher. I have never had a problem with this pen, even in winter. They are pretty sharp looking too and would fit right in at the office. They come in white or black with chrome accents. You can find them pretty much anywhere that sells pens. Even the grocery store. They are always the priciest 'budget' pen, averaging $3 per pen, but so worth it. And one last thing, get a 0.7 Fine or 0.8 Bold for best results. I would avoid the 0.3 Needle and 0.5 Micro.

The best inexpensive (ie 'cheap') rollerball that I've found is the Vision Elite by Uni-ball. It has an internal ink reservoir just like a fountain pen which helps regulate changes in pressure. You can pack a Uni-ball rollerball in your checked luggage and never worry about it exploding. I live in Colorado at 4,560 feet but I have visit job sites sometimes 10,000 feet and higher. I have never had a problem with this pen, even in winter. They are pretty sharp looking too and would fit right in at the office. They come in white or black with chrome accents. You can find them pretty much anywhere that sells pens. Even the grocery store. They are always the priciest 'budget' pen, averaging $3 per pen, but so worth it. And one last thing, get a 0.7 Fine or 0.8 Bold for best results. I would avoid the 0.3 Needle and 0.5 Micro.

A gel ink refill is between ballpoint ink and rollerball ink in terms of its properties. It's free flowing, but won't dry as quick as the water based inks of most refills. You can get gel refills for certain brands in either ballpoint or rollerball, so it's really going to be about what writing type your husband prefers and if you can get a gel refill to fit the pen.

If you are just looking to purchase a pen and not switch refills then probably rollerball.

A gel ink refill is between ballpoint ink and rollerball ink in terms of its properties. It's free flowing, but won't dry as quick as the water based inks of most refills. You can get gel refills for certain brands in either ballpoint or rollerball, so it's really going to be about what writing type your husband prefers and if you can get a gel refill to fit the pen.

If you are just looking to purchase a pen and not switch refills then probably rollerball.

Many manufacturers do different tip widths for their ballpoint pens, but its more unusual to find various widths in rollerballs. We know that Lamy and Parker do them.

Also don't try and compare line widths between writing types. A medium ballpoint might be 0.8mm line width, but a rollerball 0.7mm... It's not really clear cut as this will also vary brand to brand.

Many manufacturers do different tip widths for their ballpoint pens, but its more unusual to find various widths in rollerballs. We know that Lamy and Parker do them.

Also don't try and compare line widths between writing types. A medium ballpoint might be 0.8mm line width, but a rollerball 0.7mm... It's not really clear cut as this will also vary brand to brand.