Red pen use is discouraged or prohibited in certain contexts in several countries, primarily due to cultural associations.
Countries Where Red Pen Use is Discouraged or Prohibited
While a complete ban isn't always in place, using red ink for writing notes, grading, or official documents is often avoided in:
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South Korea: Writing a person's name in red ink signifies that the person is dead or about to die, rooted in a superstition where red ink was used to record the names of the deceased.
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Japan: Similar to South Korea, using red ink to write someone's name is avoided because of its association with death notices.
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Portugal: Red ink has a long history of being associated with officialdom and control, so teachers generally avoid using red pens for grading so as not to make the student feel threatened.
Reasons for Avoiding Red Ink
The reasons for avoiding red ink vary:
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Association with Death: As seen in South Korea and Japan, red ink is linked to death and the recording of names of the deceased.
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Association with Authority and Criticism: In some cultures, red ink is traditionally used by teachers and authority figures to mark errors, leading to negative associations with criticism.
While other colors can be used, understanding cultural sensitivities regarding the use of red pen can help avoid unintentional offense.
