Can You Identify All of These Office Supplies?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify All of These Office Supplies?
Image: fcafotodigital/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Are you an expert in identifying office supplies? Let's try it with this quiz!

But first, let's be clear about our definitions. When we say office supplies, we will include many consumable items in this quiz. Consumables include materials used often and their supplies run out within a week or even a day. They're the ones that the administrative department replenishes regularly. 

These consumables also have various categories. Most of them are paper products, though. Yes, no matter how hard we try to go paperless, certain offices find it impossible to do so. Certain official requirements really need paper.

Aside from paper products, many consumables are writing supplies, too. Even if an office is well-equipped with computers and digital devices, "analog writing" still saves the day in certain cases. Technically, small office appliances or equipment also count as office supplies. But for this quiz, we'll leave out this stuff and include universally known small devices only.

People who plan to set up a home office can enjoy knowing the different categories. A Staples expert recommends making a checklist to help people monitor their office supplies needs. Their recommended categories include desk supplies, filing supplies, paper products, computer-related supplies, time tracking materials, mailing supplies, binding needs and identification supplies. You'll find many examples of these materials in the quiz.

So, are you ready to clock in? Let's get to it, then. Happy working!

Stapler
fcafotodigital/E+/Getty Images
"Clack-clack," said the big kind. What's this small tool that keeps papers in a bind?
Puncher
Stapler
Shredder
Laminator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No matter what business they're involved in, companies need staplers in their offices. The first stapler patents appeared during the 1860s and 1870s. Different inventors worked on their own versions for their respective patents.

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Post it notes (USA)
Tuomas Lehtinen/Moment Open/Getty Images
Paste 'em here, paste 'em there, paste 'em everywhere! What are these rainbow-colored little ones that'll make you stare?
Planner
Legal pad
Sticky notes
Journal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Our digital sticky note apps for computer desktops owe a debt of gratitude to paper Post-its. It's the known 3M brand of sticky notes that now come in colorful designs and shapes. The original Post-it, though, looked like a small block of legal ruled yellow pad.

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Shears
Counselling/Pixabay
"Snippety-snip," said the small one. Which tool has the highest cutting reliability?
Scissors
Push pins
Thumbtacks
Glue gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Your office scissors may look snazzy, but this tool already existed during antiquity. Records and artifacts show that Egyptians were using their own kind of scissors a long time ago. Ancient Romans followed suit and created scissors of their own design.

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Whiteboard markers
Juice Images/Cultura/Getty Images
Brainstorming? You must have some of these to jot down ideas for all to see.
Highlighters
Permanent markers
Whiteboard markers
Fountain pen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whiteboard markers are easy to erase using a soft cloth or even tissue paper. No matter the brand, these writing instruments dry up easily when their caps are not put back on them. Some brands also emit a pungent, offensive smell; choose what to use wisely.

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Push pin
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Tack, tack, tackin' on cork boards? Pick one of these from their prickly horde.
Fastener
Push pin
Bulldog clamp
Binder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Push pins differ from thumbtacks, so don't mix the two up. Push pins have longer heads, which make them easier to grab and pin to a surface. Thumbtacks have flat heads that make removing them frustrating and challenging, no matter what IQ level you have.

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19 ballpoint pen
Alan Williams/Moment/Getty Images
Scribbling down instructions from the boss? Use one of these so you won't be at a loss.
Ballpoint pen
Notebook
Marker
Stamp pad
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Scott Adams' humor book "Build a Better Life by Stealing Office Supplies," you can see Dogbert carrying a bunch of ballpoint pens on the cover. You can't see which brand his office uses, though. But for real-life reliable brands for office use, there's Bic and Pilot.

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Paper Clips
Pixabay/Vitamin
Ran out of staple wires? This temporary holder's for hire!
Masking tape
Ring binder
Paper clip
Glue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We're all familiar with the two-loop design style of paper clips today, thanks to its ancestor named Gem clip. This Gem clip kind is the earliest prototype of this paper clip design; it appeared in the market during the early 1890s.

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Letter envelope
MirageC/Moment/Getty Images
Before email arrived, these were our superstars. Stamps aside, what helps carry your correspondence far?
Telegraph
Paper request
Letter envelope
Courier pack
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The prototype of the modern-day letter envelope came after the invention of postal stamps. Before the invention of the envelope, people just folded their letters and used special seals to keep them private. Since stamps were costly then, only the rich could afford to send letters in envelopes.

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Mouse pad
Jupiterimages/PHOTOS.com>> / Getty Images Plus
You rest your wrist here as you maneuver a computer peripheral. Name this one, office pal!
Armrest
Stress ball
Mouse pad
Mini-pillow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aside from making the mouse move better, a typical mouse pad also helps workers lessen muscle stiffness or pain in their wrists. It's advisable to have one if the mouse you're using still has a rubber ball. If you're using an optical mouse, the mouse pad still serves as a good wrist assist.

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Flash drive
Richard Newstead/Moment/Getty Images
Going paperless? Mother nature thanks you! Now where do you store digital reports that are due?
Laptop
Storage box
Flash drive
Keychain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You can hear the term "USB" thrown around offices sometimes, but that's not the proper word for it. USB stands for universal serial bus, which refers to the computer port. A flash drive is the one that's inserted inside the USB; you can call it "USB flash drive" to be more accurate.

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Manila envelope
Fuse/Corbis/Getty Images
Finished working on those printed documents? Keep 'em here, so to the shredder they won't be sent!
Shipping label
Manila envelope
Memo pad
Journal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Those brown or tan-colored envelopes in your office supplies closet are manila envelopes. They're made from manila hemp known as abaca; it's harvested from a banana species endemic to the Philippines. The name comes from the Philippine capital city of Manila.

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Time card
kevinjeon00/E+/Getty Images
Don't forget to "activate" this one before starting your day. What tally do they use to determine your pay?
Pay slip
Checks
ID
Time card
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Offices that haven't gone digital yet still use time cards for their employees. All workers need to insert these heavy cards on a time clock or punch clock. The card will make a time stamp of the employee's arrival and departure time at the office.

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Toner cartridge
ermingut/E+/Getty Images
If you've got an inkjet one, refill the container. Otherwise, laser printers need one of these to purr.
Ink adapter
Toner cartridge
Charger
Casing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An inkjet printer uses liquid ink for its printing needs, while a laser printer uses a different device. Its ink version is in powder form, contained in a toner cartridge. Sometimes it's also called a laser cartridge, to differentiate it from an inkjet cartridge.

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Calendar
Utamaru Kido/Moment/Getty Images
Setting a date for a meeting? You must check which item for double bookings?
Rolodex
Calendar
Journal
Itinerary list
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An office won't survive without a calendar, since schedules and deadlines are huge in this world. Offices that streamline their schedules online use calendar software that's accessible to all employees. A popular example is Google Calendar, which employees integrate into their email systems.

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Tape
Ann Cutting/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Packing, masking, clear and duct. Which sticky thing is an "office must"?
Tape
Paste
Glue
Office bandage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Adhesive tape comes in many forms that address various needs. Scotch tape is the common clear tape used in offices, but "Scotch" refers to a specific 3M brand. Another common office tape is masking tape; this one's easier to tear and handle.

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Paperweight
Peter Cade/Photodisc/Getty Images
Something needs to give those papers order and discipline! What's this perfect candidate that'll keep your work desk clean?
Document gatherer
Marker
Paperweight
Snow globe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Employees who can't get enough of artistic paperweights can join a club for this hobby. There's an American nonprofit organization called Paperweight Collectors Association Inc., which holds conventions every two years. They offer different membership types for paperweight enthusiasts.

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Highlighter
RapidEye/E+/Getty Images
When there's text that needs emphasis, pick a color to use for that biz. What do you need for that, office whiz?
Mechanical pencil
Highlighter
Tab marker
Ball point pen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thank the Japanese for thinking of how to mark paper without ruining the ink already printed on it. Credit goes to Yukio Horie who combined a felt-tip pen with water-based ink to invent the highlighter. American manufacturer Carter's Ink picked up this early '60s invention and mass-marketed it.

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Paper
Getty/aristotoo
Good luck printing that report without this! What's this essential office supply you should not miss?
Photo paper
Glossy paper
Printer paper
Vellum board
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before loading that office printer with paper, check which kind of printer you have. Inkjet printer paper comes in varied types which depend on what you'll be printing. Laser printer paper suits office paperwork better.

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Fasteners
WikiCommons by Superbass
These prong things will keep papers secure inside a folder. Do you know what they're called, partner?
Fasteners
Clippers
Bulldog clips
Tacks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The prong kind of paper file fasteners are still popular for office filing use. Effective workers use these to secure loose paper documents inside a file folder. They then store the folders inside filing cabinets or on office shelves.

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Pencil
Richard Newstead/Moment/Getty Images
When pens commit you too much to paper, this alternative offers something lighter.
Shading stick
Technical pen
Fountain pen
Pencil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the pencil first came about, it wasn't all round like what we use today. Carpenters used square ones since the round ones would roll off their tables. You can see this pencil type in Faber-Castell's private collection; they own the oldest known pencil, discovered in a 17th-century house.

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Clipboard
shutterstock
If you need something to hold a piece of paper for you, what office item will do?
Clipboard
Bulldog clipper
Binder board
Folder board
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Digital natives might be more familiar with the clipboard concept found in mobile technology. But we still use the actual masonite or acrylic clipboard in various industries today. On media production sets, you can see people holding clipboards to check attached script pages, shooting schedules or checklists.

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Glue
Douglas Sacha/Moment/Getty Images
Stick 'em on, stick 'em down or stick 'em under. Which supply will do this wonder?
Glue
Rice stick
Duct tape
Clipper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mother nature was our first glue supplier, thanks to flora and fauna products. In ancient Egypt, hieroglyph records show that they used animal glue during that time. In the 1800s, manufacturers experimented on rubber tree extract to produce a natural kind of glue.

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Tape dispenser
Fuse/Corbis/Getty Images
Well, you need to hold that tape inside this contraption. What's this device that renders cutting tape an easier action?
Tape binder
Tape puncher
Tape dispenser
Tape cutter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only the very Zen office mate has the power to get a piece of Scotch tape without a tape dispenser. The rest of us mere mortals have to thank the 3M employee named John Borden for inventing the first tape dispenser.

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Permanent markers
shutterstock
Good luck erasing its marks on your conference room whiteboard! What's this writing instrument called?
Mechanical pencil
Technical pen
Permanent marker
Fountain pen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In case a sleepy office mate used permanent markers to write on your office whiteboard, don't fret. Write over the permanent mark using the whiteboard markers, then erase them. You can also ask around if someone has nail polish remover; acetone works, too.

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Puncher
Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images
If your document needs holes, use this device to fulfill your goals.
Shredder
Thumbtack
Puncher
Staple gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Calligraphy enthusiasts might be familiar with Friedrich Soennecken because of his round writing method. This German guy also invented the office puncher with the two holes. He also invented the ring binder folders.

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30 calculator GettyImages-182752017
blackred / E+ / Getty Images
When pencil pushers need to compute, what do they use to help with their mathematical route?
Abacus
Calculator
Protractor
Smartphone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You can find a calculator in any typical office; but do you know which kind? The most common one is the basic calculator; it does the simple math calculations you need on a daily basis. But your finance department might also have a financial calculator for more complicated needs.

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Stamp pad
Zoonar RF/Zoonar / Getty Images Plus
Received! Approved! For filing! Which inky tools will mark paper things?
Thumbprint marker
Counterfeit detector
Stamp pad
Ticket puncher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Delivery people know this stamp pad system all too well. Whenever they hand out a document for delivery, they need to make sure it's officially received. The receiver will use a stamp pad and mark the paper accordingly, adding in a signature and the date.

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Shipping labels
asiseeit/E+/Getty Images
Sending out stuff to a client? Use this so they'll know where it gets sent!
Receipt
Invoice
Shipping label
Petty voucher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Certain office supplies stores call it different names. There's shipping label, return address label or parcel label. No matter the term, it has one clear aim: to state the sender's name and address. There's another label that also states the recipient's name and address.

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Eraser
jskiba/E+/Getty Images
Wipe mistakes out with this little one. What's this item that gets things done?
Eraser
White out
Corrective tape
Liquid Paper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Offices usually buy rubber or gum erasers to supply erasing needs. But these types often leave particles and can damage the paper. If you want an eraser that won't leave particles, buy the kneaded eraser type used by artists.

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Business cards
krystiannawrocki/E+/Getty Images
"Here's my number," you tell a potential partner. What item do you hand out for new business ventures?
Small catalog
Mini-brochure
Business card
Portfolio summary
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During the17th century, before the invention of the business card, sellers and advertisers used trade cards. These looked more like pretty postcards; they had product illustrations on the front and the sellers' or product details on the back. These trade cards eventually gave birth to business cards.

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Adhesive bandages
MirageC/Moment/Getty Images
Someone might get hurt in the office, too. What should you keep in store in case they need to heal, boo?
Adhesive bandages
Medical tape
Gauze
Cleansing wipes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Offices have mandatory emergency kit supplies as part of office supplies, too. They should have basic medical supplies, like gauze, hand sanitizer, thermometer and more. Adhesive bandages like Band-Aids should be there, too.

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Staple remover
Douglas Sacha/Moment/Getty Images
Removing those wires is a mental challenge. Which handy tool do you use that won't leave you in a bend?
Cutter
Staple remover
Protractor
Staple gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Office mates with ninja moves can remove staples without the aid of staple removers. The rest of us need to thank William Pankonin for patenting this invention in the '30s. His proposed style for removing staples was to snag it from the whole staple side, not the folded ends side.

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Rubber band
shutterstock
When your needs are elastic, using these is fantastic!
Rubber bands
Electrical tape
Copper wire loops
Ribbons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pre-Columbian populations like the Aztecs and Mayans already discovered rubber during ancient times. In modern times, other inventions paved the way for the rubber band's discovery. Vulcanized rubber and the rubber eraser came first before making the rubber band's existence plausible.

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Card holder
Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media / Getty Images Plus
Too many new contacts giving you their digits? Store them here to be neat and legit!
Mini-ledger
Mini-envelope
Paper wallet
Card holder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Employees in charge of business development need card holders on their desks. They're handy to use for safekeeping those important business cards from potential clients. The office can provide the plastic kind, the metal or mesh wire kind, the wooden kind or the leather kind.

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Bookends
Gary S Chapman/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images
Boss told you to organize their shelves? Using a pair of these will hold and help.
Bookends
Ring binders
Bulldog clips
Magazine stand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When bookends were invented in the 1870s, the patent didn't label them as such. Patent records show that they were called "book support" instead. While they're clearly called book support, the patent mentioned that we can also use them for holding up photographs, cards or engravings.

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Notepad
Nora Carol Photography/Moment/Getty Images
They're often ruled for your writing pleasure. Which paper supply is an office treasure?
Journal pages
Memo sheets
Notepad
Phone message notes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did you know that a notepad comes in different ruled kinds? They typical wide-ruled pads are the white ones, while legal pads come in yellow. For those who don't like ruled paper, there's also an unruled version for the free-flowing writer in you.

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Bubble wrap
IvanaBrcic/E+/Getty Images
Pack delicate items with this for safety unless you want to pay damage fees!
Packing tape
Bubble wrap
Stylized styrofoam
Paper bedding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's a Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, people; this is not a drill! It's celebrated every January, specifically during the last Monday of that month. If you run out of actual wrap to pop, you can buy a Mugen Pop-Pop keychain that simulates the experience. You're welcome!

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Storage boxes
Image Source/Image Source/Getty Images
Need one item to carry them all? Get one of these for an easy haul.
Storage box
Wagon
Parcel box
Office luggage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did you notice that they also call these storage boxes "banker's boxes" sometimes? As its name suggests, banks were the original customers of these sturdy cardboard boxes. Today, these boxes are reliable enough to store more than bank records.

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Water
OnePopPhoto/E+/Getty Images
Hang out by the cooler for this. No, it's not gossip, but this liquid without fizz. Guess what it is!
Soup
Water
Soda
Tea
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Any office that treats employees as valuable humans should have a water cooler setup in their premises. Thirsty workers can drink cold or hot water whenever they want. There's a water cooler option now that dispenses sparkling flavored water, too.

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Coffee
Hill Street Studios/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Of course, you need this in the office pantry. What fuels employees' productivity?
Flavored water
Soy milk
Energy drink
Coffee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No office is complete without a running coffee supply. Offices may offer different ways to fill this need. An office pantry usually has one coffee maker, but some offices prefer having coffee-dispensing vending machines for variety.

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