Reading and Writing

If the pen is mightier than the sword, does that mean that the pen emoji is mightier than the sword emoji? The emojis is this collection relate to all things reading and writing. There are writing utensil emojis ranging from pencils, to fountain pens, to crayons. There’s a large assortment of book emojis that depict from notebooks, paperbacks, and stacks of books similar to what you might find in a library. Whether you like reading fiction, dense textbooks, or newspapers, you’ll likely find an emoji that represents your favorite form of reading.

In this collection, you’ll also find a large collection of stationary related emojis -- for taking notes, writing and sending letters, and mailing packages. And, if historic documents are your things, there’s even a scroll emoji.

Explore these reading and writing emojis to learn more about their meanings, see how they are rendered across vendors, and discover other related emojis.

📔 notebook with decorative cover
The notebook with decorative cover is not like other notebooks: it’s got a simple and elegant design on the front.
📕 closed book
You might know this emoji as the red book, but it’s given name is actually the closed book. It’s volume 1 in the Apple emoji library.
📖 open book
If you like to talk a lot and share everything, someone might call you an open book. It’s probably a compliment if you read in between the lines. The open book emoji shows a book that is wide open. It is typically used in conversations about reading or literature. It can also be used to refer to someone who is an open book.
📗 green book
The green book! Is it an autobiography of a famous environmentalist… a botanic encyclopedia… or a gardening guide? The world may never know.
📘 blue book
The blue book emoji is the third volume in Apple’s library collection. It is elegant and refined—I wonder what’s inside.
📙 orange book
Your book club is going to love this one. The Orange Book emoji shows a closed, orange book and is generally used in conversations about reading, learning, or school.
📚 books
The books emoji features a stack of hardcover, multi-colored books, stacked haphazardly on top of each other.
📓 notebook
Get your pens and notebooks out class, it’s time to write. The notebook emoji shows a similar style notebook that you might have used in school as a child. The composition style journal is a writer’s canvas. Make sure to have a few pens, pencils, and white out handy while channeling your inner journalist.
📒 ledger
It’s a notepad, it’s a journal, no wait, it’s a ledger! The ledger emoji shows a yellow spiral-bound notebook and is inspired by the ledgers used by accounting and finance professionals.
📃 page with curl
The page with curl emoji shows a white document with writing on it that is curled at the bottom edge; similar to a scroll, but much more modern.
📜 scroll
Here ye, Here ye, the proclamation has been signed into law! The scroll emoji shows a type of document that was widely used in ancient times to write letters and create important documents. You can use this emoji to represent really old important documents like the American Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which were both signed with a quill pen.
📄 page facing up
The Page Facing Up emoji features a white paper filled with words, the top right corner bent and dog-eared to mark the page.
📰 newspaper
The newspaper emoji is depicted as a newspaper with lines to represent words, and some platforms have their own title. Newspaper emojis can be used to show that the story you’re telling is important, or newsworthy.
🗞️ rolled-up newspaper
Extra, Extra, read all about it! The rolled up newspaper emoji represents a newspaper that is tossed out to a home by a paper delivery person. Use this emoji when talking about the press, the media, the news, newspaper, and tabloids.
📑 bookmark tabs
The bookmark tabs emoji depicts a stack of papers or documents, each with a sticky organizational tab at the side. This is a useful emoji when speaking about deeply professional office matters.
🔖 bookmark
The Bookmark emoji features a piece of paper which is attached to a string or tassel, with a design printed in the middle.
🏷️ label
This tan or yellow tag is the label emoji. It can help you organize to keep track of your items.
✉️ envelope
The envelope emoji is of a closed white envelope. Maybe it contains an ordinary bill… but maybe, just maybe, there’s a sweet birthday card inside!
📧 e-mail
The e-mail emoji shows a closed envelope with a big “E” or "@" on the front of it. Use this emoji when talking about email of all kinds: corporate professional to silly emails between friends.
📨 incoming envelope
You’ve got mail. Make sure to check your inbox. The incoming envelope emoji shows an envelope on the move. The incoming envelope emoji is often used when talking about email, snail mail, letters, postal services, or instant messages.
📩 envelope with arrow
Incoming! The envelope with arrow emoji is used to symbolize mail in all forms; digital and physical. Use this emoji when you receive a letter, message, or email from someone.
📤 outbox tray
The outbox tray is an open-top tray with a red “up” arrow above it, indicating that anything in the tray is going to be sent out rather than received.
📥 inbox tray
Check your mail! The inbox tray emoji is used to signify an email’s inbox or physical inbox tray. It can also be used to indicate downloading or receiving a message. The arrow points down to show that something is coming into the box.
📦 package
The package emoji shows a big brown box taped up from shipping. What’s inside this parcel? Open it, open it!
📫 closed mailbox with raised flag
You’ve got mail! When the flag on a closed mailbox is raised that means the postal service has delivered your letters and packages. Use this emoji when talking about the postal service, or the postcard from grandma.
📪 closed mailbox with lowered flag
The closed mailbox with lowered flag emoji shows a mailbox with a closed door so you cannot see inside. And, the flag is lowered, so it must have already been visited by the postal worker.
📬 open mailbox with raised flag
The open mailbox with raised flag emoji shows a mailbox with an open door so you can see there’s a letter inside. And look—the flag is raised, so it must be ready for pickup by a postal worker!
📭 open mailbox with lowered flag
The open mailbox with lowered flag emoji shows a mailbox with an open door so you can see there’s no letters inside. The flag is lowered, so it’s likely the postal worker has already stopped by.
📮 postbox
If you’re sending a letter, make sure to put a stamp on it before putting it in the postbox. The postbox emoji is used when talking about mail, the postal service, or even a penpal.
🗳️ ballot box with ballot
“Rock the Vote!” Be sure that you and your friends vote in the next election and send this emoji to remind them to cast their ballot.
✏️ pencil
The pencil emoji is a diagonally angled yellow wooden pencil with a pink erase nib on the end. Use it for any appointments you’re not ready to set in stone.
✒️ black nib
A black nib is found on a fountain pen. It’s what get’s ink to your paper, so you can write. Use the black nib emoji when talking about your next scripted masterpiece, your signature, or anything related to writing.
🖋️ fountain pen
This emoji is the fanciest pen in the game! The pen with a silver “nib” tip, usually appears in content involving signatures, calligraphy, or writing in general. The 45-degree tilt, with the nib facing downwards, indicates that the pen is in the act of writing.
🖊️ pen
The pen emoji is a permanent ink writing utensil, and can be used in the context of signatures, dates that have been committed to, or very serious crossword puzzlers.
🖌️ paintbrush
The paintbrush emoji consists of a long handle with a flowy, artistic-looking brush tip, often illustrated with paint or ink right at the apex.
🖍️ crayon
The crayon emoji comes in a variety of colors across varying platforms and is often used to convey artistic talent or childhood, as crayons are immensely popular with children.
📝 memo
Always remember, never forget! The memo emoji is a piece of notepaper with a pencil writing on it. Writing memos will help you remember important information.
📋 clipboard
Have you checked all the boxes off of your list? The Clipboard emoji has many meanings. It could be used to refer to a clipboard in a medical office, work office, or school. It can also be used to talk about a todo list, checklist, or a document that needs to be completed.