Jude 2

All my life, I've said and heard the term "ink pen" to describe, well, ink pens. "Hand me that ink pen." "I need an ink pen." "You got an ink pen?" "What did I do with that ink pen?" "Awww, shoot, this ink pen's about to run out."

I was on the phone leaving a message for a client and a girl says, "I need a ink pen" and for some reason, it just totally caught my ear. Then she said something really ladylike about needing to pee, but I figured we all use that term and it just wouldn't be as interesting to ask about it.

How many of you routinely or even just sometimes use the term "ink pen" in this way?

I've never used that term, a pen has ink, and a pencil doesn't. I grew up in Arkansas but there's a lot of things about Arkansas lingo that I never adopted, so that may not have anything to do with it.

I never heard a purse referred to as a "pocketbook" until I lived in North Carolina!

its just a Pen out here on the west coast.

That's what I call it...Of course I'm from the south!

Born a yankee, raised southern by the grace of God, yep, it's an ink pen as opposed to a pig pen.

I don't believe I have ever used the term ink pen, but I have heard many people use it

It's a Southernism. I believe it to be the result of a quirk in southern accents, in which the words "pen" and "pin" are pronounced identically. To differentiate between the two, Southerners must add a modifier, in this case "INK pen."

Outside of the South, it is...

pin: Small pointed metal stem with a head; it is used to fasten two pieces of fabric and to mark fabric during fittings.

pen: Writing instrument.

I was never aware that it was called anything else.

I've never called it anything else....

Actually all pens don't have ink. Fountain pens don't have ink, but are dipped in ink, thus the name, "Fountain Pen."

Being from the south, it seems we always said, "Ink Pen," but I also remember "Ballpoint Pen," and, of course, "Fountain Pen."

When talking to myself I say pen. When asking someone else for one I say ink pen. Too many times I have been handed a straight pin. LOL! We call them straight pins and safety pins.

in conversations a pen has ink and a pencil has lead (gimme a pencil, i wanna feel lead

the exception is that because of perceptions in hearing words, and our ability of symbolic recognition, I would and have used ink-pen in stead of pen, if the conversation was also referencing pins - just so that there was clarification.

but then, I know the average number of cars I pass on the way to work,a dn on the way home, with a break out of the number of trucks as opposed to passenger vehicle cars. I usually only keep the two categories.

Ink pen here.

In Kentucky, I once attempted to order "sweet milk". The waitress asked if I was looking for goat's milk.

pastorables wrote:Ink pen here.

In Kentucky, I once attempted to order "sweet milk". The waitress asked if I was looking for goat's milk.

Do you also say "Hot Water Heater" instead of "Water Heater"?

(Why would anyone heat HOT WATER??)

I don't order "sweet milk", but that's because I don't drink buttermilk and most places don't offer it. But, have mercy, I sure heard my mother say it a million times. I will say "sweet milk" if there's any question about whether buttermilk is involved.

And, I have broken myself from saying "hot water heater". Almost.

And if you northern folks don't know what "sweet milk" is, you haven't drunk buttermilk!