How to Hold a Pencil

Co-authored by Swetha Shenoy

Last Updated: December 16, 2024 Approved

Holding a pencil correctly is an important step in learning to write and draw well. The tripod holding technique allows you to use your middle and index fingers, along with your thumb, to hold and use the pencil with the most control. Knowing how to hold the pencil correctly and practicing ways to keep good form while writing will ensure that your pencil holding technique is correct and stays that way.

Best Way to Hold a Pencil

The most popular way to hold a pencil is using the basic tripod grip. Place the pencil between your thumb and index finger, positioning your index finger on top of the pencil. Rest the pencil on your middle finger to form a triangle, then lightly pinch those 3 fingers together to begin writing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Learning the Tripod Hold

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1
Sit with your feet flat on the floor and with good posture as your write. Having good posture is important when learning to hold a pencil, as you can injure your back and create bad posture habits over time. Sit in a chair with a straight back and that is short enough for you to place both feet firmly on the floor.^{[1]
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- When teaching children to hold a pencil, focusing on the child’s posture is important in forming good habits.
2
Use your thumb and index finger to pick up the pencil. The tripod hold calls for your thumb, index finger, and middle finger to create a triangle that supports the pencil. Begin the hold by placing the pencil between your thumb and index finger, keeping the pencil at a 45 degree angle.^{[2]
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- The tripod hold allows for the most accurate writing and drawing, helping you create small, detailed lines.
- The tripod hold is also the best for teaching children how to write, as it is the most common and easiest to learn.
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3
Place the index finger on top of the pencil. For the most control, the tip of your index finger finger should be positioned on top of the pencil, working together with your thumb. Avoid squeezing the pencil with your index finger and thumb, holding the pencil gently.
- Hold the pencil as close to the tip as possible.
4
Rest the pencil on the middle finger. Holding the pencil with your thumb and index finger, rest the pencil on your middle finger for accuracy. Lightly pinch these three digits together with the pencil in between and begin writing. The middle finger is an essential part of the tripod hold.^{[3]
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- Resting the pencil on your middle finger will change the angle of the pencil, making it less straight up and more angled.
- Even with this angle, you should be writing with the tip of the pencil, rather than the side of the pencil.
5
Rest the pad of your hand on the page. The pad of your pinky and ring fingers should comfortably rest on the page, supporting the rest of your hand and allowing for full mobility. Check to make sure the rest of your hand is not coming off of the page, as this may be a sign of squeezing the pencil too hard.
- You can place a spare piece of paper underneath your hand to avoid smudging, especially if you are left handed.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Other Ways to Hold a Pencil

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1
Use the quadripod grip. Pick the pencil up with your index finger and thumb in the same way you do with the tripod grip. Hold the pencil with your index finger, thumb, and middle finger. Rest the pencil on your fourth finger, ultimately utilizing four fingers instead of three. Utilize this grip if it comes natural to you, as it is just as efficient as other grips.
- Although this grip is less common than the tripod hold, it should be encouraged when teaching children, as they should do what feels natural.
- Do not put any pressure on the pencil with your fourth finger, as this will lower mobility and flexibility in the hand. Simply rest the pencil on this finger and use your other fingers to write.
2
Utilize the underhand hold for drawing. Pick up the pencil with your index finger and thumb, holding it higher than usual, toward its center. Your fourth and fifth fingers should be supporting the bottom of the pencil. Hold the pencil loosely, with your index finger and thumb on opposite sides of the pencil. Draw larger, steady lines by moving your wrist, arm, and elbow and keeping your hand still.^{[4]
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- This technique will not work well for writing, as it is not meant for detailed lines.
- When teaching children how to draw, this is a good technique for them to use on larger pieces of paper.
3
Change your grip if you feel pain. There is no correct way to hold a pencil, so change your technique if you feel pain or unusually fatigued when writing or drawing. If a child complains about pain when writing, or you notice that their writing speed is not as efficient as it should be, consider changing their technique from the tripod grip to the quadripod grip, or vice versa.
- Children may start the learning process with immature grips, but it is important to help them grow strength in their hands through practice, allowing them to move on to more mature grips as quickly as possible.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Practicing Good Pencil Holding

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1
Start with using a short pencil. Practicing with a short pencil will keep you from picking up the pencil with too many fingers or holding the pencil improperly. Use a short pencil when teaching children how to hold a pencil for the first time, is it will ensure that they pick the pencil up with their index finger and thumb.^{[5]
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- Bad habits are less likely to form when using short pencils because there is less room to add fingers or hold the pencil in odd ways.
2
Practice using "pinch and flip" method. When picking up the pencil, pinch the sharp end with your thumb and index finger. Flip the pencil around so that it rests on the fold of skin between your thumb and index finger. Practice this several times until it feels natural.^{[6]
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- This is a great trick to utilize when teaching children where to hold the pencil.^{[7]
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- This method ensures that the pencil rests in the correct part of your hand.
- The pinch and flip method prepares you for the tripod technique, which is the most common way to hold a pencil.
3
Place a wad of paper or small ball in the palm of your hand. In order to avoid making a fist or squeezing too tightly, place a small ball in the cupped shape your hand makes. If you can not fit a small ball or wad of paper in this space, your grip may be too tight and restrictive. Make adjustments to your grip until the paper or ball fit into the space in your hand comfortably.^{[8]
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- If a child is squeezing the pencil too tight, or seems to be struggling with technique, this is a great way to help them.^{[9]
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- The ball or piece of paper should be no bigger than the size of a quarter.
Write while holding the pencil slanted or perpendicular to the table, focusing on using the tip of the pencil to write. Whether you use a 45 or 90 degree angle with your pencil is up to you and you should use whatever technique feels most comfortable.^{[10]
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Expert Q&A

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How do I improve my pencil writing skills?

Swetha Shenoy
Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist
Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago.

Swetha Shenoy

Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist

Expert Answer

You can enhance your pencil writing skills by using lined or graph paper. This makes sure that you have a consistent size and spacing in your letters. Additionally, find a handwriting style that appeals to you, practice imitating it, and incorporate available worksheets for your guidance. Also, trace letters repeatedly to build muscle memory, which aids in familiarizing yourself with the necessary shapes and strokes. Lastly, allocate about 10 minutes a day to practice your writing, this will refine your handwriting technique and further develop your style.

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How do I get used to holding a pencil a different way? I keep going back to the old way when I'm not thinking.

Community Answer

Practice makes perfect.You may find it feels uncomfortable and unnatural at first but keep trying. Every time you notice the reversion, restore it to the new way of holding it. It will take weeks and even months for this to change but with a will and constant practice, it will change.

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Is it okay if my thumb is bent?

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However is most comfortable to write, go ahead. Bent fingers while writing is perfectly normal.

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Tips

If you don't have a short pencil, you can break a regular pencil in half and sharpen one of the short ends, or use a broken crayon.

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