Although modern day pens are more prevalent in this day and age, there's a place for old world writing instruments beyond sentimental charm. One example is the dip pen—specifically the nib and nib holder pairing. What exactly is a nib and nib holder? A nib is a pointed piece of metal that deposits ink onto a writing surface and mounted onto a nib holder to create a dip pen.

There are actually practical reasons to choose a nib and nib holder over modern day pens, including flexibility in line width variation and tip size, which are advantageous for both writing and drawing purposes. We cover the basics of comic nibs, calligraphy nibs, and nib holders in this article and also include a table that details nib and nib holder compatibility.