What is a clutch pencil?

A clutch pencil, also known as a propelling pencil or mechanical pencil, is characterized by its ability to hold and dispense refillable leads. The design allows for adjustable lead lengths, which can be extended or retracted by a mechanism, typically a clutch that grips the lead. This feature enables the user to maintain a sharp point without needing to sharpen traditional wooden pencils continually. The refillable nature of the leads contributes to sustainability, as only the lead needs to be replaced rather than the entire pencil.

The other options describe pencils with different functionalities. A pencil that only uses colored leads refers to artist-grade colored pencils, which are different from clutch pencils. A traditional wooden pencil with a sharpener highlights a completely different type of pencil that does not have a refillable mechanism. Lastly, a pencil with a fixed lead size would not allow for the same adaptability in lead length and replacement as a clutch pencil does.