Monday, October 12, 2015

reign/rein: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, October 12, 2015

reign/rein
A king or queen reigns, but you rein in a horse. The expression “to give rein” means to give in to an impulse as a spirited horse gives in to its impulse to gallop when you slacken the reins. Similarly, the correct expression is “free rein,” not “free reign.”



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