There is also the old question of why mathematicians tend to prefer pencils over pens. The most common reason I've heard is to make correction easier, but I don't think that's the real one. When I'm doing math, I never erase, I just cross out and work around it because it's just scratch paper anyway.
I think the real reason for using pencil is the freedom to forget about it. With any type of pen, after a period of inaction, you have to fiddle a bit to get it writing nicely again. A pencil is instant, no matter how long you held it poised in air, pondering your next mark on the paper.
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[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 19.9 ms ] threadI think the real reason for using pencil is the freedom to forget about it. With any type of pen, after a period of inaction, you have to fiddle a bit to get it writing nicely again. A pencil is instant, no matter how long you held it poised in air, pondering your next mark on the paper.
I actually tend to use fountain pens for mathematics. Especially ones that don’t dry out when left uncapped.
> the freedom to forget about it.
Mathematicians from New York would agree.