Editing Highlighter

{{Short description|Type of writing device}}
{{For|the cosmetic product|Highlighter (cosmetics)}}{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
A '''highlighter''', also called a '''fluorescent pen''', is a type of writing device used to bring attention to sections of text by marking them with a vivid, [[translucent]] colour.<ref>{{cite patent
 | inventor-last =Schmid
 | inventor-first =
 | inventor2-last =
 | inventor2-first =John L.
 | inventor3-last =Sperry
 | inventor3-first = Bill
 | publication-date = 12 May 2005
 | issue-date =
 | title =Ink compositions for use in highlighter markers and associated methods
 | country-code =WO
 | description =
 | patent-number = 2005042654
}}</ref>
A typical highlighter is [[fluorescent]] yellow, with the colour coming from [[pyranine]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-01-22|title=The Chemistry of Highlighter Colours(mostly fluracent green)|url=https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/01/22/highlighters/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Compound Interest|language=en-GB}}</ref> Different compounds, such as rhodamines ([[Rhodamine 6G|Rhodamine 6GD]], [[Rhodamine B]]) are used for other colours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/The-Chemistry-of-Highlighter-Pen-Colours.png |format=PNG |title=The Chemistry of Highlighter Colours |last=Brunning |first=Andy |work=[[Compound Interest (website)|Compound Interest]] |date=2015-01-22 |access-date=2016-04-18 }}</ref>

==History==
A highlighter is a [[marker pen|felt-tip marker]] filled with transparent fluorescent ink instead of black or opaque ink. The first highlighter was invented by Dr. Frank Honn in 1962
<ref>{{Cite web |title=FRANCIS HOHN Obituary (2016) - Newark, NJ - New York Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/francis-honn-obituary?id=20930022 |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref> and produced by [[Carter's Ink Company]], using the trademarked name Hi-Liter. [[Avery Dennison|Avery Dennison Corporation]] now owns the brand, having acquired Carter's in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |first=Greenbaum |last=Hilary |author2=Rubinstein, Dana |title=WHO MADE THAT? The Hand-Held Highlighter |date=January 22, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/the-hand-held-highlighter.html |work=[[The New York Times Magazine|The New York Times Sunday Magazine]] |page=MM20 |access-date=January 26, 2012}}</ref>

==Styles==
[[File:Markeerstift-01 (xndr).jpg|thumb|A yellow [[Schwan-Stabilo|Stabilo]]-brand highlighter pens]]

Many highlighters come in bright, often [[Fluorescence|fluorescent]] and vibrant colours. Being fluorescent, highlighter ink glows under [[black light]].<ref name="black light">{{Cite web |date=2002-07-18 |title=How Black Lights Work |url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/black-light.htm |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=HowStuffWorks |language=en-us}}</ref> The most common colour for highlighters is yellow, but they are also found in [[orange (color)|orange]], [[red]], [[pink]], [[purple]], [[blue]], and [[green]] varieties. Some [[yellow]] highlighters may look greenish in colour to the naked eye. Yellow is the preferred colour to use when making a photocopy as it will not produce a shadow on the copy.

Highlighters are available in multiple forms, including some that have a retractable felt tip or an eraser on the end opposite the felt. Other types of highlighters include the ''trilighter'', a triangularly-shaped pen with a different-coloured tip at each corner, and ones that are stackable. There are also some forms of highlighters that have a wax-like quality similar to an [[oil pastel]].

"Dry highlighters" (occasionally called "dry line highlighters") have an applicator that applies a thin strip of highlighter tape (physically similar to audio tape or [[correction tape]]) instead of a felt tip. Unlike standard highlighters, they are easily erasable. They are different from "dry mark highlighters", which are sometimes advertised as being useful for highlighting books with thin pages.

"Gel highlighters" contain a gel stick rather than a felt tip. The gel does not bleed through paper or become dried out in the pen as other highlighters' inks may, which renders them useless.

"Liquid highlighters" in a range of colours are also available, and because they put more ink on a page when highlighting, they make words stand out more than with non-liquid types. Also the fact that more highlighting ink is put on the page with liquid highlighters means that the highlighting ink is much more resistive to fading with age.

"Pastel highlighters" use pastel dyes instead of fluorescent dyes.

==In software==
[[File:Advanced syntax highlighting TeXstudio.png|thumb|Errors marked in computer code, in the style of a highlighter pen]]
Some [[Word processor|word processing software]] can simulate highlighting by using a technique similar to [[reverse video]] on some [[computer terminal|terminals]]. For example, the <code>CHAR</code> command of [[Commodore 128]] BASIC allows text to be displayed in reverse, which can be used to highlight text forms and selected items in menus.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hardee |first=Martin |url=https://archive.org/details/commodore128basi0000hard/ |title=Commodore 128 BASIC: Programming Techniques |date=1986 |publisher=Tab Books |others= |isbn=978-0-8306-0432-6 |edition=1st |publication-place=Blue Ridge Summit, PA |pages=106&ndash;114}}</ref>

In [[HTML]], text can be highlighted in yellow with the <code><nowiki><mark></nowiki></code> element. <mark>This is an example.</mark>

Some forms of [[syntax highlighting]] may also be displayed in the style of a highlighter pen, with a bright or pastel background to the text. Some web [[browser extension]]s also enable users to create digital highlights on websites and online PDFs.

==See also==
*[[Emphasis (typography)]]
*[[Sanitization (classified information)]]—using black "highlighter" to hide classified information.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Highlighters}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline|highlighter}}

{{Pens}}

[[Category:Writing implements]]
[[Category:Stationery]]