Is red ink suitable for everyday writing?

[Stephen-I-am]

I'm curious whether most people would find that a red ink is suitable for their rotation. Let everyone know what your favorite red is, if any, as an everyday ink.

 

Stephen

[OldGriz]

It would depend on the shade of red....

I know I would not use it for everyday business correspondence... but some shades of red might be nice for casual correspondence...

[jbb]

I write with Diamine Maroon, Noodler's Habanero and Noodler's Tiananmen Red all the time in my everyday writing. The only problem I have the the Tiananmen Red is that it's hard to spell!

[Stephen-I-am]

Maybe I should have written, "is there a red you use for daily writing, and if so what is it?". Give me some names, people.

[RSVP]

No. Red ink can sometimes be taken to mean some form of debt or obligation on the part of the recipient. Unless it were a friend , I would not use it.

[beaker606]

I would probably think twice before using it in correspondence but wouldn't hesitate using red for my own use--notes, journaling, shopping lists, etc.

 

FWIW,

 

Kevin

Beaker606

[Judybug]

No. Red ink can sometimes be taken to mean some form of debt or obligation on the part of the recipient. Unless it were a friend , I would not use it.

I'm the daughter of an accountant and was taught to avoid red like the plague! Yes, it meant debt! It's hard to overcome your childhood, so I would never use red for business letters or anything having to do with bookkeeping.

 

But I love to write personal letters with Private Reserve's Orange Crush - a rich red-orange. I also use Orange Crush in my reader's journal.

 

Judybug

[Taki]

In some cultures using red ink might have bad connotations. I was born and raised in Japan, and was taught not to use red ink to adress envelopes or write letters. I'm not sure why but I think my mom said addressing envelope in red is a bad luck(something to do with death) and writing letter in red means that you want to break off relationship with the person. Thuogh I'm not superstitious I still don't like red ink

Edited October 6, 2006 by Taki

[*david*]

If you are writing something where red might be taken to have a meaning, even accidentally, then don't use it. But as far as looks, red is not a problem for me. Noodler's plain red is nice to look at. (It's a more substantial-looking colour than the European red inks I've tried, as if maybe it has a drop of black added.)

[sonia_simone]

I like both Ottoman and Shah's Rose, but a whole letter of either would probably strike me as a bit much. Like POSTING IN ALL CAPS.

[Neecerie]

*makes a note never to send Sonia a snail all in red, unless its christmas*

 

[Dr.Grace]

It's funny that we have the phrase "red-letter day", which is a very positive expression but does NOT mean getting a letter written in red ink!

 

Don

[hatherton_wood]

I've used red in combination with green for Christmas cards for something a little different - otherwise just for notes and marking.

[Blade Runner]

If MB Bordeaux is considered red, then by all means yes!

I love the way it looks on azure stationery.

[Ann Finley]

I use Waterman's Red, and also like Sheaffer's Slovenian Red, and for envelopes, Noodler's Devil Red. I never write a whole snail in red, but I do try to use most of the pens I have inked when I write a snail--and that sometimes includes red.

 

Best, Ann

[wiglaf]

I've just started using Noodler's Suguaro for scoring essays- I love it- somehow it makes a "D" appear tolerable.

 

Tony

[kissing]

In many asian cultures, writing in red (especially your name) is discouraged because it's some superstitious bad luck thing. Of course I don't believe in it, but it's still not customary to write big documents in red. I use red for correction and edit notes.

 

Also, I think it was scientifically proven that red is harder to read than black or blue or something. Not sure on that area though

[sonia_simone]

Kissing, I hope you've finished all the studying you need to do.

[Viseguy]

A whole page of bright red is hard on the eyes. :blink: So I'd avoid it, unless you want to light a fire under someone.

[saintsimon]

If MB Bordeaux is considered red, then by all means yes!

...

Yes, dark reds/bordeaux'/burgundys are more pleasant to the eye, so one can read a few pages without too much stress. But, still, the use remains limitted to rather private notes/correspondence.

 

MB Bordeaux, Noodler/Swisher Burgundy (very similar colours) and others dareker reds are quite usable. Ottoman Rose is a great lip-stick colour, more suitable fo relationship management

 

There is a bottle of the discontinued OMAS Amerigo Vespucci Red on its way to me, so lets see if it is also easy on the eyes /:)