Ask WordMum: Rein vs Reign
Welcome to the newest post in our Ask WordMum series! Here are some tips and tricks on using rein and reign correctly.
Our Question
How do I know whether to use rein or reign in a sentence?
WordMum Says
I mentioned in our last post that what helps me distinguish between similar-sounding words is anchoring them on a single meaning. That gives me something to refer back to when I need to figure out which one to use in a specific context. You’ll probably hear me talk about this approach a lot. Metaphors help us here!
Here’s a good starting point:
Rein = horse’s rein (noun, verb)
A rein is the leather strap attached to the bridle that the rider uses to communicate with and control the horse. The key concept here is control. The uses of this word can be linked back to equestrian terminology and concepts.
Connected words and phrases: reining, reined, rein in
Reign = monarch’s rule (noun, verb)
This refers to a monarch’s rule over their land or domain. It’s fancy, so it has an extra letter in it to be posh. The key concept here is power and it tends to refer to official hierarchies.
Connected words and phrases: reigned, reigning, reign over
So when you’re trying to use one of these words in a sentence, the first question I would ask myself is: am I trying to convey something relating to control or power? Control tends to be more direct and specific, whereas power tends to be broader and more conceptual.
Your answer might be ‘both’, but that is seldom the case in the specific instance of the word you’re looking for. So dig deep into what you’re truly trying to say and see where it takes you.
Example Time!
Here are some of the most common uses for these words (other than to describe the exact meanings quoted above).
Rein in.
This is a phrase about controlling something; to rein in something usually means pulling it back, restraining it, or suppressing it. It can be a person, a person’s urge to do something, the speed of a vehicle, etc. This reflects directly what happens when you draw in a horse’s reins, which pulls their nose in, imposes control, and curbs their speed.
Further example: She reined in her desire to slap his face because there was a policeman standing right behind him. In this case, the female character is controlling herself.
Give (free) rein.
This one means giving someone the scope or freedom to do something. This links back to horse reins, because loosening the reins (giving rein) gives the horse permission to move forward with more speed or less control from the rider. You can give some rein, which means giving limited control to the other person or thing. Adding ‘free’ means that no control at all is retained; you have given them all the reins and therefore all the control.
Further example: He gave his son free rein to unwrap gifts. This means the son is allowed to do it as he pleases, in any order and using any method.
Rein over.
This one is rare outside of specific equestrian situations. When you neck rein a horse over, you’re turning it to the side. Specifically, it’s how Western riding steers horses, referred to as neck reining (with the loose reins you see in Wild West movies or ranch riding in the USA). It isn’t used in English riding (with the more tightly-gathered reins you see in competitions like showjumping and dressage), so it wouldn’t make sense to use this for someone riding in the English style.
Chances are, if you are thinking of this phrase you actually mean:
Reign over.
This one is usually used about a person reigning over some kind of domain and more easily linked back to the monarch’s rule meaning. This is about what they have power or authority over. The domain might be themselves, a kingdom, a department in a company, or the garden they have tamed.
Further example: The head chef reigned over the kitchen with a sharp voice and a knife clutched in their hand. A person’s domain can vary in size and importance.
Reigning thing.
This one is a little less obvious, but it basically means the top, leading, or overriding thing, usually one in a hierarchy. It is often temporary in nature. It is the thing with the most power at that moment.
Further example: The reigning monarch is the one currently in power, subject to the usual methods of change.
Further example: the reigning emotion might be anger, which means the character’s fury is overriding their other emotions and ruling the character’s actions for a time. This example also shows where something has a lot of power but not necessarily any control (raaaaaage!). It’s the thing with the most power, the top of a hierarchy, so we use reign in this case.
Does that help you figure out which word to use going forward? Reign over those words with a firm hand on the reins, and you’ll be fine.
If you’ve got a different way to keep them in their correct places, let us know! We’d love to hear what works for you.
Got something you want to have clarified? Then go ask WordMum! Watch this space for our next entry in the series.