Those twelve twenty-somethings are wrong from a technical standpoint, but language is a living thing that can change... maybe this is why there was debate on this topic at Rob's table. Whatever happens you’ll never hear me say purchased receipt in a store or red receipt anywhere else—unless they’re actually crimson and I bought them!
At Garrick’s prompting for more AI input yesterday, I decided to play around and ask it for some Lincoln-flavored examples to support *reed* receipt. We live in strange times: as I was able to generate this entertaining poem between stops on the Green Line (!) while appreciating our historic subway system—since it wasn’t possible to take our historic train system from North Station yesterday due to “updates?”. Disclaimer: the poem that follows was generated by two LLMs competing with each other (collaboratively) with minimal human attention: In Lincoln’s fields by Codman’s grand estate, Where history whispers through iron gate, The Minute Men now, in reenactment’s thrill, Relive the past with steadfast skill and will. At Gropius House, where modern lines inspire, It’s *drawing board*, not “drawn” by time’s old fire. By Drumlin Farm, where creatures roam and play, It’s *grazing field*, not “grazed” in yesterday. On Battle Road, past Samuel Brooks’ door, With *walking path*, we trace the steps of yore. Not “walked path” worn by ghosts of war’s fierce tide, But trails alive where reenactors stride. At deCordova’s sculptures, bold and bright, It’s *viewing platform*, standing in the light. Not “viewed platform” faded from the scene, But art that calls us to what might have been. By Ponyhenge, where horses in whimsy rock, It’s *rocking horses*, not “rocked” by time’s old clock. Through *reading room* at Thoreau’s quiet keep, We ponder words that run both wide and deep. In *washing stream* by Walden’s reedy shore, Not “washed stream” cleansed by rains of days before. With *cooking hearth* at Hartwell’s tavern warm, We gather ‘round, safe from the gathering storm. Our *drinking fountain* quenches thirst anew, Not “drank fountain” dry from morning dew. The *sleeping quarters* rest the weary head, Not “slept quarters” haunted by the dead. When emails glide through digital domain, They loop back home with read receipt again— Pronounced as “reed,” like Lincoln’s marshland grace, Not “red” like apples in this hallowed place. So let us speak with voices clear and true, In Lincoln’s lore, where names forever brew. With *running trail* and *writing scroll* in hand, We honor “reed,” across this timeless land. ------------------- *ChatGPT 5 prompt generated by ChatGPT 5:* “Explain to my fellow townspeople why words ending in *-ing* (like *running shoes* or *swimming pool*) are similar to *reed receipt*. Give me a concise breakdown of the grammar rule, how it relates to function/ability, and why English avoids past-tense forms in compounds. Include examples.” ------------------- *ChatGPT output:* 📖 Why *-ing* words and *reed receipt* work the same way *1. Grammar rule:* In English compounds, verbs used as modifiers normally appear in the *base/present or participial form*, not the past tense. *2. Function/ability:* These compounds describe what something *does* or *is for* (its ongoing function), not what it *did once in the past*. - *running shoes* → shoes for running - *swimming pool* → pool for swimming - *reading glasses* → glasses for reading - *read receipt* → receipt showing a message *is read* (base form = *reed*) *3. Why not past tense?* English avoids past-tense modifiers because they imply a one-off action instead of a general property. - ❌ *ran shoes* - ❌ *swam pool* - ❌ *wrote permission* - ❌ *red receipt* *4. Rule of thumb:* - *Base/present form* = ongoing use or purpose (*reed receipt, running shoes, reading glasses*) - *Past tense* = reserved for describing *experience* (*well-read, widely read*) ------------------------------ 👉 That’s why “reed receipt” fits the same pattern as *running shoes* or *swimming pool*. On Sun, Aug 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM Steve Hirsch via Lincoln < [email protected]> wrote: > Interesting question. I believe I've given more thought to this aspect of > email systems in the past 15 minutes, doing LL email catchup tonight, than > I had in 30+ years of actual email use!😅 > > That said I've always pronounced it like "reed" because the "read receipt" > it is a receipt of the other person's READING of my message.🤷♂️ > > Steve Hirsch > > > On Friday, August 15, 2025, 09:21:56 PM EDT, Rob Stringer via Lincoln < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Is “read receipt” pronounced “red” receipt or “reed” receipt? > > The internet is no help, so I am asking the pros from LT. > > Rob Stringer > 15 TPR > > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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