classroom objects

Question

I'm recording vocabulary related to the school objects, could you help me with these doubts?

Is it the same a marker and a felt-tip?

And a crayon and a coloured pencil?

How do you call that device you use to make holes in a sheet of paper (or is it better piece of paper?)?

Sticky tape or cello tape?

Pen or biro?

Khoff · Accepted Answer

I can tell you the American terms for these things - it may be different in Britain.

Marker is more common, Different types of markers are: washable, permanent, and dry-erase (for writing on special "white-boards."

A crayon is waxy. Crayons are usually used by children. Colored pencils (note American spelling) are pencils that write or draw in various colors. (I'm sure Crayola has a website that would show you all of these.)

You use a hole punch to make holes in a sheet, or piece, of paper. If it makes three holes at one time, spaced correctly to put the paper in a three-ring binder, you call it a three-hole punch.

We might say clear tape (although that could describe packing tape several inches wide) or celophane tape, (although that sounds rather old-fashioned). Sticky tape would sound odd to an American -- aren't all kinds of tape sticky? Cello tape would also be unfamiliar. Actually we would almost always say Scotch tape, although that is a particular brand name.

Pen, or ball-point pen if that is the specific meaning of biro. Most Americans would not have any idea what a biro was.

I hope some of this is helpful. Sometimes I have the feeling I can spend a lot of time on an answer like this, and the questioner might be thinking, "Why would I want all these American terms?"

Coachpotato · Answer

Thanks Khoff, you've been very helpful as usual.

Now, would anybody tell me the British terms?

TIA

Mike in Japan · Answer

Khoff ... we would almost always say Scotch tape, although that is a particular brand name.

In Australia, and some other countries, we say sticky tape. This has not always been the case though. Many years ago we used to say Durex (a brand name tape). When I was quite young, our family moved to England. One day I was at the supermarket with my mother when she asked the cashier quite loudly for some Durex. The cashier then grabbed her microphone and requested some Durex over the supermarket P.A. system. 'Durex at no. 5 please', the cashier announced. Many shoppers turned to see who was at checkout 5 requesting Durex. Mum thought that was a bit odd. When a packet of condoms marked 'Durex' was handed to my Mum, her face turned a deep red colour. In England at that time, the most popular brand of condoms was Durex, and sticky tape was adhesive tape.
True story!

Coachpotato · Answer

Nona the brit · Answer

Ok, now for the British versions (odd that there is so much variation on stationery!)

Is it the same a marker and a felt-tip? No. A marker is a big chunky type of pen used for writing on white boards, writing on parcels, posters etc, wherever you need a permanent or very clear writing. A felt-tip is a much smaller pen (normal size) usually used for colouring rather than writing (children use them a lot). Both types of pen have a sort of foamy 'felt' tip and very liquid ink soaked in the tip. I always end up with ink all over my fingers when I use them.

And a crayon and a coloured pencil? As pointed out before, a crayon is made of coloured wax and used for colouring, usually by very young children who might poke their eyes out with a pencil. A coloured pencil looks like a normal pencil but it has a coloured core.

How do you call that device you use to make holes in a sheet of paper (or is it better piece of paper?)? A hole punch.

Sticky tape or cello tape? Sellotape is a brand name in the UK and is so ubiquitous it is the standard name used for this type of tape, whatever the actual brand (in the same way that all vaccuum cleaners get called 'Hoovers'). The only time sticky tape gets used is on a kids' TV programme or something where they can't use a brand name - but I've never heard it used in normal life!

Pen or biro? Well, all biros are pens but not all pens are biros. Again, Biro is actually a brand name but it has become the name of the object itself, whatever the brand. A biro is a plastic pen that comes in two parts - an outer rigid shell and an inner tube that is filled with ink. It has a hard round metal ball at the nib end. Also commonly call a ballpoint pen. Biro tends to be used for the cheaper type of ballpoint that comes with a clear shell and you can see the inner ink tube through it. They are cheap and disposable.

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