A pencil sharpener (also referred to as a parer or topper in Ireland) is a device for sharpening a pencil's
writing point by shaving away its worn surface. Pencil sharpeners may be operated manually or by
an electric motor.Before the development of dedicated pencil sharpeners, a pencil was sharpened
by whittling it with a knife. Pencil sharpeners made this task much easier and gave a more uniform result.
Some specialized types of pencils, such as carpenter's pencils are still usually sharpened with a knife,
due to their flat shape, though recently[when?] a fixed-blade device with a rotatable collar has become available.
writing point by shaving away its worn surface. Pencil sharpeners may be operated manually or by
an electric motor.Before the development of dedicated pencil sharpeners, a pencil was sharpened
by whittling it with a knife. Pencil sharpeners made this task much easier and gave a more uniform result.
Some specialized types of pencils, such as carpenter's pencils are still usually sharpened with a knife,
due to their flat shape, though recently[when?] a fixed-blade device with a rotatable collar has become available.
