Fountain Pen Myth #4: If someone uses your fountain pen, the nib is damaged. It is widely assumed that allowing people to use your fountain pens may cause the nib to change. It is true that a fountain pen nib will wear down and mold to your writing style over time. However, this happens with any type of pen, not just fountain pens. The best way to ensure that your nib does not wear out prematurely is to take good care of it. Never grind up your nib against the side of your desk or put it in your mouth. This will shorten its life span. Also, never fill your pen with too much ink; allow some room at the end for more ink to flow through when you write. Finally, if you get tired of one look, you can file or sand the nib down to give it a new shape. All things considered, a fountain pen nib will last quite a while if you take care of it properly.