diff --git a/montepy/input_parser/input_reader.py b/montepy/input_parser/input_reader.py
index 12baa629..0be4ae07 100644
--- a/montepy/input_parser/input_reader.py
+++ b/montepy/input_parser/input_reader.py
@@ -32,5 +32,5 @@ def read_input(input_file, mcnp_version=DEFAULT_VERSION, encoding="ascii"):
     """
     problem = mcnp_problem.MCNP_Problem(input_file)
     problem.mcnp_version = mcnp_version
-    problem.parse_input()
+    problem.parse_input(encoding=encoding)
     return problem
diff --git a/montepy/input_parser/input_syntax_reader.py b/montepy/input_parser/input_syntax_reader.py
index 540164a0..290d93d6 100644
--- a/montepy/input_parser/input_syntax_reader.py
+++ b/montepy/input_parser/input_syntax_reader.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 reading_queue = []
 
 
-def read_input_syntax(input_file, mcnp_version=DEFAULT_VERSION):
+def read_input_syntax(input_file, mcnp_version=DEFAULT_VERSION, encoding="ascii"):
     """
     Creates a generator function to return a new MCNP input for
     every new one that is encountered.
@@ -25,11 +25,20 @@ def read_input_syntax(input_file, mcnp_version=DEFAULT_VERSION):
 
     The version must be a three component tuple e.g., (6, 2, 0) and (5, 1, 60).
 
+    .. Note::
+        For different encoding schemes see the available list
+        `here <https://docs.python.org/3.9/library/codecs.html#standard-encodings>`_.
+
+        CP1252 is commonly referred to as "extended-ASCII".
+        You may have success with this encoding for working with special characters.
+
 
     :param input_file: the path to the input file to be read
     :type input_file: MCNP_InputFile
     :param mcnp_version: The version of MCNP that the input is intended for.
     :type mcnp_version: tuple
+    :param encoding: The encoding scheme to use.
+    :type encoding: str
     :returns: a generator of MCNP_Object objects
     :rtype: generator
     """
diff --git a/montepy/mcnp_problem.py b/montepy/mcnp_problem.py
index 7e4d8f3e..802b8d5d 100644
--- a/montepy/mcnp_problem.py
+++ b/montepy/mcnp_problem.py
@@ -232,10 +232,19 @@ def transforms(self):
         """
         return self._transforms
 
-    def parse_input(self, check_input=False):
+    def parse_input(self, check_input=False, encoding="ascii"):
         """
         Semantically parses the MCNP file provided to the constructor.
 
+        .. Note::
+            For different encoding schemes see the available list
+            `here <https://docs.python.org/3.9/library/codecs.html#standard-encodings>`_.
+
+            CP1252 is commonly referred to as "extended-ASCII".
+            You may have success with this encoding for working with special characters.
+
+        :param encoding: The encoding scheme to use.
+        :type encoding: str
         :param check_input: If true, will try to find all errors with input and collect them as warnings to log.
         :type check_input: bool
         """