Pencil (Grading and Classification)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil#Grading_and_classification
Many pencils across the world, and almost all in Europe, are graded on the European system using a continuum from “H” (for hardness) to “B” (for blackness), as well as “F” (for fine point). The standard writing pencil is graded HB.
Remember when you took all those art classes in college, when you were drawing and painting all the time and totally being all artsy? And remember how your friend just asked you what the different numbers and letters on your graphite pencils mean? And remember how you said, “They’re classified by hardness,” and then he said, “OK, so what’s the difference between an HB and a 9H?” and you went, “……….. [mumble mumble mumble]….. hey look, a beer!”
Yeah, me either.
But, you know, in case you ever find yourself in that hypothetical situation, here’s a cheat sheet.
As of 2009, a set of pencils ranging from a very hard, light-marking pencil to a very soft, black-marking pencil usually ranges from hardest to softest as follows:
You’re welcome. (Strictly hypothetically, of course.)
