A 

pen is a common writing instrument that applies ink to a surface, usually paper,

for writing or drawing.[1] Early pens such as reed pens, quill pens, dip pens and ruling pens held a
small amount of ink on a nib or in a small void or cavity which had to be periodically recharged by
dipping the tip of the pen into an inkwell. Today, such pens find only a small number of
specialized uses, such as in illustration and calligraphy. Reed pens, quill pens and dip pens,
which were used for writing, have been replaced by ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, fountain pens
and felt or ceramic tip pens.[2] Ruling pens, which were used for technical
drawing and cartography, have been replaced by technical pens such as the Rapidograph. All of
these modern pens contain internal ink reservoirs, such that they do not need to be dipped in ink
while writing.