[1] It is used to cut a visible line, which can then be used to guide a hand saw, chisel or plane when making woodworking joints and other operations.

Some woodworkers make their own marking knives, for example from spade bits or planer blades.

[6][7]: 179 Marking knives are usually held like a pencil, and are guided using a straightedge or square.

[7]: 175  Sometimes woodworkers will gently run a sharp pencil along the line afterwards to make it more visible.

A shirabiki is a Japanese marking knife made from a single piece of steel with a skewed single-bevel blade.