There must be an experienced editor out there.
My ancient English class would have said-
Read/Red was past tense.
Read/Reed was present and future

What do others find accepted practice in writing.



> On Aug 17, 2025, at 6:14 PM, Charles Sykes <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> After polling a group of twelve folks in their late twenties it was 
> determined unanimously that it is “red” receipt. 
> 
> The justification given was that a “read receipt” is a notification within a 
> messenger app that indicates the other party has seen your message. 
> 
> That is:
> A receipt for a message which has been read. 
> A message read receipt
> A read receipt
> 
> In some apps this will be a a series of check marks, in others it will say 
> “read” (red) followed by the time of reading. 
> 
> Only one person in the group had even heard of the “reed” pronunciation. 
> 
> Hope this helps. 
> 
> Best wishes,
> Charlie
> 
>> On Aug 17, 2025, at 11:24 AM, June L Matthews <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> I can think of a phrase where it would be "red."  As in "the most recently 
>> read receipt."
>> 
>> Note that read ("reed") could also be a noun as in "[That book] was a good 
>> read."
>> 
>> June 
>> 
>> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A12, an AT&T smartphone
>> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
>> From: Lincoln <[email protected]> on behalf of Sara Mattes 
>> <[email protected]>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2025 10:07:46 AM
>> To: Carl Blesius <[email protected]>
>> Cc: Lincoln Talk <[email protected]>
>> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Please help me settle a Friday night family 
>> dinner debate
>>  
>> Brilliant!
>> 
>> Let’s keep this going.
>> Does anyone else have more to add?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 16, 2025, at 11:41 PM, Carl Blesius <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Going into the reeds on this one...
>>> 
>>> In compounds, English uses the base form of verbs (running shoes, swimming 
>>> pool). With read, that base is pronounced reed, so we get REED RECEIPT.
>>> 
>>> Rule of thumb:
>>>     • reed = technical/functional, ongoing state
>>>     • red = human/literary, past experience
>>> 
>>> More sysadmin examples (all pronounced reed, since they describe functions, 
>>> properties, or ongoing states):
>>>     • read-only memory (non-writable storage)
>>>     • read latency (delay in retrieving data)
>>>     • read permission (file system rights)
>>>     • read access (ability to open/view data)
>>>     • read lock (database concurrency control)
>>> 
>>> Carl "Likes-To-Hang-Out-With-Sys-Admins" Blesius
>>> 22 TPR
>>> 
>>> P.S. Let me know if you want more examples over a glass of red!
>>> 
>>>> On Aug 15, 2025, at 9:21 PM, 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
>>>> 
>>>> 
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