An electronic pen (10) has a force sensor (16) whose electrical resistance varies in accordance with the amount of force applied to the pen stem (14) of the pen. The force sensor (16) is a modular unit with an electrode and a closure, which are mutually arranged in an essentially electrically insulated initial position. The closure, which conveniently is cantilevered on the electrode, is adapted to receive axial forces from the pen stem (14) and thereby to be urged to an activated position in electrical contact with the electrode. The closure is also arranged, on relaxation of the axial forces, to automatically spring from the activated position back to the initial position. A control device is used in a method for controlling the pen based on an analog measuring signal from the force sensor (16) by a processor (22) comparing the analog measuring signal with a fixed reference signal and, based on the comparison, selectively initiating conversion of the analog measuring signal into a sequence of digital force values.