Roller Ball or Rollerball?

[azamiryou]

Parker and Uni say "roller ball" (though Uni usually leaves the "ball" off and makes it "Roller Pen" or just "Roller"). Mont Blanc, Cross, and Wikipedia say "rollerball". Merriam-Webster is silent on the subject. What do you call it?

 

[rjwolfe3]

I have no idea if it is right but I have always called it rollerball but spell check wants it to roller ball.

 

[Lenny]

James Caan and Chris Klein can't be wrong ... Rollerball! :laugh:

 

[AKPenTurner]

I've always used rollerball.
As a quick check, I typed it into Microsoft Word and looked it up in its dictionary, which had this as its definition:
1. Pen with movable ball tip.
A pen with a writing tip in the form of a small movable metal or plastic ball.

Not that Microsoft Word is any authority, I have tons of trouble with the program. Maybe they finally got something right...

 

[Caden_Hrabak]

I always say Roller-ball

 

[stolicky]

Auto spell check does not like "rollerball". Just sayin' I don't like those squiggly red lines under my engineering taught spelling ability... : )

Personally, I do like it as one word.

 

[DCBluesman]

I'm not sure this is definitive, but the The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association, a national trade association covering the $4.5-billion industry of pen, pencil and marker manufacturers, says roller ball pen. I believe either has become acceptable.

 

[Rfturner]

I generally use Rollerball, but I have found that I sometimes write it as roller ball. I like it better being one word personally.

 

[ctubbs]

I hate spell check. When I correctly spell the wrong word, it never catches it. There!:redface::at-wits-end:

 

[Smitty37]

spoken word

When spoken...it really doesn't make any difference does it? "Rollerball" and "roller ball" really sound the same. I think I usually write it as rollerball unless I'm typing a little bit faster then it will come out roller ball. My guess is the reader will know what I mean in either case.

 

[snyiper]

Direct from the pages of Exotics!!!! Nuff said, this must be right!!!

Churchill Roller Ball Kit

 

[gawdelpus]

Hmmm ! does this mean that biro's and that type are also "Roller Balls" I assume they have a ball that rolls the ink onto the paper cheers ~:biggrin: John

 

[ldb2000]

Direct from the pages of Exotics!!!! Nuff said, this must be right!!!

Churchill Roller Ball Kit

Why would they have to be right ? According to the spell checker "ed4copies" is really "endoscopies" so if he's been spelling his name wrong for all these years ..... :wink::tongue::biggrin:

 

[pianomanpj]

Direct from the pages of Exotics!!!! Nuff said, this must be right!!!

Churchill Roller Ball Kit

Why would they have to be right ? According to the spell checker "ed4copies" is really "endoscopies" so if he's been spelling his name wrong for all these years ..... :wink::tongue::biggrin:

Sheesh, Ed! Are you gonna take that lying down?!?

Well, I suppose endoscopically, you would...

 

[Chthulhu]

I'm not sure this is definitive, but the The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association, a national trade association covering the $4.5-billion industry of pen, pencil and marker manufacturers, says roller ball pen. I believe either has become acceptable.

And on the WIMA Web site:

"In 1977 a new type of ballpoint that uses low-viscosity ink was introduced - the 'Rollerball.'"