Abstract: In order to delay the drying of an aqueous writing fluid at an exposed point of a writing utensil, an ether is added to the aqueous writing fluid, the ether having a polyglycol radical and a single alcohol radical whose gel point is above 30.degree. Celsius and which is dispersed in the writing fluid. An example of such an ether is cetyl alcohol-n-polyglycol ether with n=5 or 6.