| Tip |
| Gist |
| Knob |
| Crux |
| Core |
| Lump |
| Nexus |
| Heart |
| Kernel |
| Essence |
| Worn end |
| Small lump |
| Punch line |
| Stubby end |
| The skinny |
| Pencil end |
| Main point |
| ___ center |
| Pencil lump |
| Pencil stub |
| Stunted end |
| Small piece |
| Core; kernel |
| Short pencil |
| Pencil stump |
| Nitty-gritty |
| Central part |
| 1" No. 2, say |
| Salient point |
| Worn-down end |
| Central point |
| Pencil box bit |
| The real issue |
| Worn-down part |
| Pencil remnant |
| Gist — kernel |
| Run-down pencil |
| Worn-down piece |
| Gist of a story |
| Half-inch pencil |
| Well-worn pencil |
| Well-used pencil |
| Much-used pencil |
| Worn-down pencil |
| Diminutive pencil |
| Worn pencil, e.g. |
| Itty-bitty pencil |
| Very short pencil |
| Essence of an idea |
| Pencil stump, e.g. |
| Gist of the matter |
| Small protuberance |
| Stubby pencil, e.g. |
| Heart of the matter |
| One-inch pencil, say |
| Pencil, late in life |
| Oversharpened pencil? |
| Short piece of pencil |
| Broken crayon, perhaps |
| Worn-down pencil, e.g. |
| Much-used pencil, maybe |
| Pencil on its last legs |
| Short piece of a pencil |
| The heart of the matter |
| Point of a story: Colloq. |
| Pencil after lots of crosswords, maybe? |
| Pencil that has been sharpened down to a stub |