Housing element for a writing instrument and writing instrument

A housing element for a writing instrument, the housing element comprising:

• a hollow, sleeve-shaped, elongated base body having mutually opposite first and second longitudinal ends;
• said base body having an opening at said first longitudinal end for receiving the writing instrument or a pencil lead of the writing instrument;
• and
• said base body having a retaining recess formed with a polygonal cross section at said second longitudinal end for directly or indirectly retaining a bit in a rotationally fixed manner;
• said retaining recess having side walls and a locking catch protruding from at least one of said side walls for at least one of form-lockingly or force-lockingly retaining the bit or a bit holder carrying the bit;
• said locking catch protruding from a corner formed between an adjoining two of said side walls toward an inner side of said retaining recess.