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Many of us work in companies therefore it should be really helpful to learn some vocabulary about office supplies. This is what we’re going to be doing in this vocabulary sheet!

In this section, you’ll find:

  • A definition of Office Supplies.
  • Examples of frequently asked questions about office supplies.
  • A vocabulary sheet about office supplies;
  • A vocabulary exercise with images.

Read on and start learning English the right way!

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What Are Office Supplies and Who Uses Them?

Office supplies are the small equipments needed by a person working in an office, such as pens, pencils, erases, rulers and so on.

a calligraphy pen on a black piece of paper

Office Suppplies Vocabulary Sheet: Most Common Words

WordDefinitionExamples
BallpointAn old form of the pen also known as ‘Bic’, or ‘Bic pen’. It’s still the most widely used brand todayThere are many varieties of pens nowadays but nothing compares to the quality of the ballpoint
Bulldog clipA clip that is used to hold paper in place on a stand, for instance for a display or a lectureCheck at the entrance, they provide you with bulldog clips to attach your ID badges
CalculatorA small programmable machine for processing digits about numbers, it can execute many logical or arithmetic tasks automaticallyNo kid can do without a calculator these days, it’s even accepted in the exam rooms
ClipboardOffice device, a weighty object one put on top of papers to hold them in placeIt is very windy in this room, close the window or use your clipboard
ComputerAutomatic data-processing equipment, obeying programs, used in particular by administrative staff for their tasksIt takes me less time to use a computer than to write by hand
DeskA table on which to write and workIt’s always nice to work in a company with nice desks
EnvelopeSheet of paper folded and pasted in a pocket-size shape to put postal itemsHelen, would you please put these letters in envelopes and post them. Thank you
EraserA small object used to rub out writing and drawings made with a pencilNowadays, we have erasers on pencils but they have always been of poor quality
FaxA device for sending and receiving scanned documents. Faxed documents have a legal valueIt is fast and legal to use it for a layer
Filing cabinetA tall piece of storage furniture with shelves and one or more doors.Before leaving, please make sure you store your files in your filing cabinet. Our files are private property
FolderThe box containing a set of documents for a casePlease store this file carefully in its folder. It’s an important case
Fountain penA stylised pen one uses with ink contained in a reservoir or cartridgeNo one uses a fountain pen these days. It’s just for the sake of design
GlueSubstance capable of holding together, by durable adhesion, materials in contactI used glue from the office to stick my little boy’s drawing on the wall
HighlighterA marker used to underline a section of writing with a bright and transparent inkDear ladies, I used a red highlighter to point out your spelling mistakes
Ink CartridgeSingle-use plastic casing containing liquid or powdered ink, for use in various models of printersI’m going to make a thousand prints, I need to buy several ink cartridges
KeyboardA device with alphanumeric keys in several rows for typing on a computerI have an azerty keyboard type
LabelSmall piece of paper or cardboard tied or glued to an item to identify itToday, your task is to paste labels on all these envelopes
MarkerFelt pen drawing broad linesYou must write the address on this parcel in marker, the pen is too small
MonitorIt’s the computer’s video output device, in other words, the screenAll monitors under 17 inches are outdated, let’s renew our computer equipment
NotebookSmall book to record and store information to keep them in mindI have a doctor’s appointment at 9 a.m., fortunately I wrote it down in my notebook otherwise I would have forgotten about it
PaperMaterial made from pasted wooden fibres, then processed into a thin sheet on which to writeI have some letters to type, give me a ream of paper
PencilWooden stick, containing a long lead, used for writing or drawing erasable linesBefore you send this letter, please draft it in pencil for me so that I can check for mistakes
Pencil sharpenerSmall device with a sharp blade used to sharpen pencilsI need a pencil sharpener, my pencil lead is too blunt
Push-pinAn object like a small nail with a large head that is pressed in with a finger, commonly used for hanging paper or postersWe need more push pins to put up the policies at the front office
ScissorsAn object with two steel branches, sharp on the blade. It’s used to cut paper or cardboardI need scissors to cut all these papers
Stamp padThe stamp pad is a small box used to print a text, a pattern, a logo on a paper.Remember to reset the date on the stamp pad every day when you stamp the mail
StaplerA small machine containing clips, used to tie sheets of paper togetherOnce you have sorted the sheets, staple them together
Sticky notesA small sheet of paper to write notes and which has a thin adhesive strip on the back to allow it to be pasted temporarilyThank you for leaving me your message. These sticky notes are really useful
TapeAdhesive strip for packing boxesWrap this package and use the brown tape
WastebasketA specific type of bin designed to receive waste from an officeHow many times do I have to say, don’t throw food in the wastebasket, it’s only for papers…

Examples of Office Supplies Vocabulary Terms in Sentences

Let’s go over some examples in forms of questions:

‘In this list for ordering next year’s ephemeris, which format do you want?’

I would like the one with a wooden stand, mentioning the holidays and public holidays.

‘How many paper reams does one month of photocopying require?’

for our bid files, at least ten.

⮞ ‘I have some health-problems with my back, do you have ergonomic chairs?’

Yes, we have seats with adjustable headrests and armrests.

⮞ ‘This stapler is too tiny, can you order me the 24/6 mm, 26/6 mm size?’

Well, sure, you’ll get it in three days.

⮞ ‘Can you order fifty large envelopes, one hundred and twenty medium-sized and twenty-five small ones?’

Yes, of course.

⮞ ‘We still need ballpoint pens even though we use the computer. Can you order me a set in black, blue, green and red?’

Yes, how many do you want exactly?

⮞ ‘Would you please sort Mr. Red’s files in the red folder?’

Coming right up, sir.

⮞ ‘Would you check the fax machine regularly for paper?’

I’m already doing it, sir.

⮞ ‘Can I have a return desk? We’d have more room for drawers.’

Then, you’ll give the older one to the trainee.

⮞ ‘Would you please use the green highlighter for an agreement, the yellow one for a correction and the red one for a misprint?’

Understood, sir.

Office Supplies Vocabulary Quizz and Practice Exercises

In the below exercises, look at the pictures and try to fill in the blanks:

person holding some markers in their hand

These leak a lot, don’t order any more from this supplier.

This pencil is very dull, can you lend me your

a stapler

Give me back my I have a lot of documents to clip.

a highlighter

Dear ladies, you must use   to emphasize specific words.

Learn Vocabulary Online On GlobalExam’s Online Platform

From now on, you’ll no longer be mocked by secretaries when you ask for supplies, thanks to GlobalExam, you have learned almost everything about office supplies. And that’s not all, browse for more glossaries in the other vocabulary sections.