pen

pennoun

American /pɛn/ British /pen/

plural pens

fairly common

a tool with colored liquid inside, used for writing or drawing
countable [C]
- Can I borrow your pen for a minute?
- My pen has run out of ink.
- Please fill in the form in black pen.
- She always keeps a pen and paper by the phone.
Collocations
noun + noun ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, fountain pen
verb + noun pick up a pen, lend someone a pen
phrase in pen, pen and paper, a pen and ink drawing
Compare pencil

Phrases

put pen to paper

start writing something

I've been meaning to write to her, but I haven't put pen to paper yet.
He finally put pen to paper and wrote his first book.

Common mistakes

Write your answers with pen. Write your answers in pen.
Use in pen for the way something is written, or with a pen for the tool; do not leave out a.

pennoun

Collocations

Phrases

Common mistakes