Office and school supplies intended for use in written communication are commonly known as stationery. The peak time for purchasing stationery is usually at the start of the academic school or college year, but there is year-round demand for most stationery products from both office workers and students.

Stationery is sold by retail stores, including in stationery specialists known as stationers. The word "stationery" originates from the fact that stationery was often bought from retailers who remained in the same position (were stationary) as opposed to travelling retailers.

A pen is an instrument used to apply ink to a surface, more commonly a paper surface. It is used for written communication, typically in an office or school.

Unlike marks from a pencil, the marks from a pen cannot typically be erased as the ink is usually permanently applied to the surface. Therefore, many younger children are required to use pencils in their school activities. Some teachers have adopted the idea of a "pen license", which offers the privilege of using a pen to those students that have met several criteria.

Historically, the term "pen" referred specifically to a quill. The word originated from pinna, the Latin word for feather, given that the first pens were produced with carving a goose feather with a penknife.