Date:  Tue, 12 Apr 1994 20:51:23 CDT

From:  "Donald M. Lance" <ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET>

Subject: Re: ink pen



I don't make the pen/pin distinction, but I don't say "ink pen".

Discussions of "ink pen" and "sticking pin" have suggested that teachers

have prompted students to say "ink pen" even though no kid would ordinarily

ask for a "sticking pin" in class. I don't recall any of my teachers

engaging in dialect harrassment by insisting that we say "ink pen" to make

sure we weren't asking for sticking pins.



It's also possible -- more likely -- that manufacturers sold ink pens with

the two words written on the box. The term I grew up using was "fountain

pen." A little foray into comercial language might yield useful info.

                           DMLance