Question: is hb a soft pencil?
Answer: Most pencil manufacturers outside of the U.S. use this scale, using the letter “H” to indicate a hard pencil. ... Today, however, most pencils using the HB system are designated by a number such as 2B, 4B or 2H to indicate the degree of hardness. For example, a 4B would be softer than a 2B and a 3H harder than an H.