If the #2 pencil is so popular, why is it still #2?

popular school supplies - The #1 school supply was the #2 pencil. And of course the famous wide ruled notebook paper.
United States
September 5, 2007 2:45pm CST
Like it should be #1, even though I prefer to write with a pen. The #2 is like it's suppose to be some brand name or something. Because it is very popular this time of year, especially since school supplies are so highly popular at the beginning of a school year and it is that time. But every school supply list I looked at the #2 pencil was needed and of course wide ruled notepaper. I guess it's just a personal choice of sorts.
1 person likes this
5 responses
grecychunny26
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
6 Sep 07
I think it stand for the lead quality of the pencil. Lead is the mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil. #2 is i think has more lead quality than # 1 pencil.
lightningMD
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
5 Sep 07
THe number 2 refers to the lead of the pencil. Which is really graphite and not lead. We had to buy number two pencils for my kids supply list too. The supply lists seem to be getting longer every year.
peavey
@peavey (16936)
• United States
5 Sep 07
Della is right; the numbers are grades of hardness. The "lead" in pencils is no longer lead, it's graphite mixed with clay. Harder grades (#1) have more clay, softer grades (#3) have less.
k1tten
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
5 Sep 07
Wow, you know, I never really thought about that. But #2 is the hardness of the graphite/lead that's used in the pencil.
delladidit
@delladidit (466)
• United States
5 Sep 07
...#2 has to do with the hardness of the lead. I think, #1 is softer than #2. I could be mistaken, it has been a long time since I used a pencil. ...Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della