Pencils (also known as graphite pencils) are writing instruments with a graphite lead embedded in a wooden shaft. They are mainly used for artistic sketching and drawing, for shorthand, or for taking notes. The main advantages are that they are easy to use and can easily be removed with an eraser. There are pencils for all kinds of surfaces: wood, paper, cardboard, concrete, tiles, sheet metal, wet wood or polystyrene.

Source: Reidinger