Gel pens and mascara—the two causes of smear fear. Cure the first one with this pack of (20) gel highlighter markers. They’re not felt-tip highlighters, but a waxy, crayon-ish filler that lays down a day-glo translucent stripe. You advance it by twisting the top. Manufacturer says it won't dry out, smear or bleed through. You’ll get (10) neon yellow-chartreuse plus (2) each in pink, purple, blue, green and orange.

What would you use to fill in those little circles? You’d use this extra-wide Scantek™ test-taking mechanical pencil? You passed! The lead in this beauty is the famous #2, and is .9 mm wide, like an italic pen nib. Comes with refill leads, a pocket clip and a large eraser. If our Tech Whiz Billy had had this pencil when he was younger, he'd have made double 800s on the SAT and wouldn't be working here today. Also great for doing calligraphy in pencil, which makes teachers swoon.

InkJoy is the Paper Mate® name for a particularly smooth ink, but it’s the medium 1mm points that make these so pleasant to write with. Measure 6” long with black ink and pocket-clip caps. Our each is a pack of (8) pens.

You sweet erasable, you. Dry-erase markers are the best invention since chalk, and these premium beauties from Monaggio™ are designed for professional artists but suitable for home, school or office. Wherever you are, go ahead and pick: the 12-pack of classic black or the 12-pack of colors, (3) each of red, blue, green and black. All are fine-point, 4-1/2” long with a cap. Get the ones that work for you and go write something you can later erase dryly.

Go ahead—try to keep these BIC® Round Stic® pens long enough that they run out of ink on you. We think you’ll lose them before that happens—that’s how long they last. Luckily, you’ll get a box of (12) if you’re prone to losing them. With black ink, and “Xtra-Life,” these are the thin, 6” long everyday pens that seem to always work. With removable, pocket-clip caps. You need these—or eventually you will.

Time for some new ballpoint pens? Always, right? This (18)-pack of BIC® Glide™ pens promises smooth writing action and bold lines in (4) ink colors. You’ll get (8) black, (6) blue, (2) red and (2) green pens, each with a retractable 1.6mm point, pocket clip and comfort grip. Our copywriters can confirm that they’re a joy to write with. They can also confirm that it’s sometimes OK to dangle a preposition, regardless of the pen you’re using.

These curved pyramid-shaped pencil sharpeners aren’t “cut-you” sharp, but they do have precise ridges and points, and they do exhibit a certain understated attractiveness. You’ll get a (2)-pack of 2-1/2” plastic pyramids, (1) red and (1) blue, each with (2) holes, (1) for standard and (1) for jumbo pencils. That’s a lot of ones and twos, but you’re sharp and we know you understand.

Where else can you find (lightly) scented erasers shaped like giant rings with 1” square jewels? And packed inside clear plastic spheres? We’ll pick (1) in white, yellow, blue, green or another lovely color, but if you simply must have pink we’ve got that, too, and we’ll send it to you.

Or are you just under heavy pressure to start writing right now! We know, we know. That’s why our copywriters always buy these pre-sharpened #2 pencils, to get those terrible jokes down on paper ASAP. And yes, they have erasers because sometimes we’re not funny, and we all make mistakes. In packs of (10) at 7-3/8” long.

Is that a pencil in your pocket, and wouldn't you like a little stubby highlighter that didn't take up so much room? Our each is (2) neon-yellow markers with 1/8" tips in soft-grip housings just 2-5/8" long x 1" oval, with a little slot on the cap for a chain if you want to wear them on a string or attach them to a key ring. And why wouldn't you?