For one day, an area city agreed to mispronounce its name to promote literacy.
Visitors and Monopoly players (think the railroad) alike have long mispronounced the name of the city of Reading (REDD'-ing). Locals usually cringe when people say it like the bookish activity that's spelled the same way. On Thursday, they decided to capitalize on the mistake in the name of ... reading.
The Reading Eagle reports it's part of Muhlenberg Elementary Center's Celebration of Reading, an annual event in the school's campaign to make the city's name synonymous with the activity of reading.
Reading Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer and two state legislators proclaimed that, for the day, the city's name would be pronounced like it rhymed with “seeding” or “heeding.” Several businesses and organizations in the area followed suit.
Reading, located in Berks County, has a population of about 88,000 people -- 31 percent of which are minors, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.
