What is the proper use of a chisel?

A chisel is a hand tool with a sharp, beveled cutting edge used to cut, shape, carve, or pare away material — wood chisels for woodworking, cold chisels for cutting metal, and masonry chisels for stone and concrete. It is driven by hand pressure or struck with a mallet or hammer. Keeping a chisel sharp makes it safer and more effective, and the cutting edge should always be directed away from the body. Recognizing the chisel as a cutting and shaping tool — distinct from a screwdriver, file, or plane — is part of the hand-tools topic.