One of the most popular questions I’m asked is what kind of pens and pencils I use for writing and marking in my Bible. There are many good markers, highlighters, pens, and pencils available. I’ve used many of them with various marking methods. Here’s my favorite:
I use Pigma Micron markers to write notes in the margins of my wide-margin Bible. They are archival quality and have almost no bleed-through and they don’t smear. They come in several tip-sizes and colors. I use 005 for notes. I use black for chain references, blue for headings, red for textual notes, and green for study systems and memory verses (I circle the verse number if it’s in my memory list). I use pencils for underlining, but if I were using these markers I would use 05. There are other sizes and colors available. You can get them from Amazon in a set of 8 or set of 6 markers.
I use PrismaColor coloring pencils for any highlighting or underlining. PrismaColor do not leave marks in the page and they have very rich colors. It’s best not to use too many colors because it can be difficult to tell them apart.
There are many other choices, but this is my current tool-kit. I’m currently considering a new Bible and a new marking method. I’m sure I’ll continue using these pens, pencils, or both.
Hi, I bought your kindle book which was very helpful. Only thing I was confused about is wondering which you really would underline with, pencils or micron but I after reading this post again I found out your preference is pencils. Have you checked any of Faber Castell’s pencils? I was wondering what would be seen through better after colouring (which is more transparent.
Hi Andrew. Thanks for buying my book. I really appreciate it. I did leave that a little vague. My intention was for it to be your preference, but I can see the point of sowing my personal method in more detail.
I did use Faber-Castell pencils a long time ago, but it’s been so long that I don’t remember the results. If I get a chance to try them I’ll post my results here.
Thanks,
Randy
I love the color and coverage of the prismsacolor premier pencils and they are what I’m currently using to mark my scriptures. The only problem I have with them is they break often while I’m trying to sharpen them. Sometimes I lose more than an inch of the pencil when I try to sharpen one. What kind of sharpener do you use? Do you have the same problem? Am I using the right line of prismacolor pencils? Thanks for your help!
Hi Charlene. I think your pencils are OK. I’m using a sharpener that doesn’t sharpen like a standard pencil. It sharpens shorter than normal. It leaves the pencil tips sort of stubby. It looks like the pencil on the bottom of this picture: http://www.amazon.com/Sanford-1786520-Prismacolor-Premier-Sharpener/dp/B004ZDL0K2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389248258&sr=8-1&keywords=colored+pencil+sharpener
I can highly recommend “Staedtler Textsurfer dry” pencil highlighters.
The yellow is the very best highlighter I have found.
Very bright and doesn’t show through on my Cambridge Cameo.
Thanks Michael! I’ll give those a try!