a mechanical pencil in which the lead is advanced by squeezing a cylindrical depression member provided at the position of the writer &# 39 ; s fingers during normal writing operations . the pencil includes a hollow body with front and rear axial sleeves . a chuck is disposed within the pencil body which has a resiliency which urges the chuck to open outwardly at the front end thereof . a slider including a lead holding member for lightly holding the lead is slidably positioned at the tip of the front axial sleeve . means is provided for transmitting movement from the depression member , which is formed of a resilient material flush with the cylindrical surface of the pencil body , for transmitting movement from the depression member to the chuck . a lead casing means is disposed in the rear axial sleeve which in some embodiments has the dual function of transmitting movement from a push button provided at the rear of the pencil to the chuck for advancing the lead in a conventional manner .