A housing element for a writing instrument includes a hollow, sleeve-shaped, elongated base body having an opening for receiving the writing instrument or a pencil lead of the writing instrument at a first longitudinal end. The base body has a second longitudinal end, which is opposite the first longitudinal end, and has a retaining recess that is formed with a polygonal cross section for directly or indirectly retaining a bit in a rotationally fixed manner. A writing instrument including the housing element is also provided.

A manual device extends in an axial direction and includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. First and second heads are each axially movable between a use position and a stowed position. The first head is in the stowed position when the second head is in the use position, whereas the second head is in the stowed position when the first head is in the use position. The first head and the second head both are carried by a single carriage movable in the axial direction and arranged inside a barrel. A groove forming a cam track is formed by a first shoulder of the first housing portion and by a second shoulder of the barrel. A lug of the carriage cooperates with the groove.

A housing element for a writing instrument includes a hollow, sleeve-shaped, elongated base body having an opening for receiving the writing instrument or a pencil lead of the writing instrument at a first longitudinal end. The base body has a second longitudinal end, which is opposite the first longitudinal end, and has a retaining recess that is formed with a polygonal cross section for directly or indirectly retaining a bit in a rotationally fixed manner. A writing instrument including the housing element is also provided.