Blast from the Past: reign and rein
Today we are revisiting when to use reign versus rein, a topic ably covered by verilyverity in this past post.
As verilyverity described, with excellent examples, reign means to rule or prevail and rein means to control (as one controls a horse with reins). However "rule" and "control" aren't all that dissimilar, and horse-riding knowledge is arcane enough that it's worth trying a few additional tricks to remember which one is correct.
Here are a few tips with some examples from Stargate: Atlantis.
Reign with a "g" is related to regnum, or kingship, which was believed to be divinely bestowed by a god or gods. So anytime you can replace the word with rule, and/or there's a stated or implied "over," reign with a "g" is your choice.
Rodney's will reigned supreme in the lab [over his staff].
The Wraith's reign of terror over the Pegasus Galaxy had lasted for millennia.
Rein without the "g" is related to restraint, or the control one exerts as with a horse's reins. "Rule" also implies "control," but is inclusive of other concepts involved in power. Rein very narrowly focuses on the one aspect. The post by verilyverity covered three popular expressions using rein:
By far the most common, and most commonly misspelled, usage is "rein in." And as you can see, it has a handy built-in trick to help you remember that this is almost always the no-"g" version. There is a circumstance in which "reign in" is correct, but it is rarer and easy to distinguish. Note the following usages:
The Ancients did reign in the Pegasus Galaxy thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, they did not rein in some of their more dangerous scientists.
In the first sentence, you could replace "reign" with "rule" and/or replace "in" with "over." The preposition "in" is an integral part of the phrase "in the Pegasus Galaxy" modifying "reign." In the second sentence, "rein in" is a verb phrase referring to restraint; this is where you will have "rein in" always linked together.
Another popular phrase is about letting go of control: "free rein." As mentioned by verilyverity, it refers to loosening the reins and allowing a horse be free to go where it will. There is no such thing as "free reign." The memory trick isn't quite as exact-just two four-letter words with two vowels apiece-but once you get used to seeing it spelled correctly, it will look wrong when "reign" is used.
Teyla and Jeannie gave Torren and Madison free rein in the backyard, hoping they would tire out before evening.
The third major usage of "rein" should be fairly easy to distinguish: "take the reins." In the very limited, literal sense of referring to someone actually becoming a monarch, you could conceivably say that person "took the reign," but it would definitely be singular as there is only one rulership. In nearly every case (even referring to a new monarch), writers use "take the reins."
Again, literally, picture a carriage driver, picking up a rein in each hand and controlling the horses, steering the carriage onward. The image is also used metaphorically to refer to the person who takes over controlling a business, country, classroom, or other group or enterprise. That mental image of the carriage driver holding both reins can help you remember this one.
Woolsey eyed the gathered Lanteans with his usual mix of nervousness and bravado. "It was not my plan to take the reins from Colonel Carter. However I have been named Expedition Leader and hope to provide you with the support you need as you continue with your customary excellence."
In short, if you are referring to power such as the "ruling over" or "prevailing over" of a god-given king, use "reign." If you are referring to someone exerting more tight control ("reining in"), loosening control ("giving free rein"), or coming into control ("taking the reins"), you want "rein" with no "g."
As verilyverity described, with excellent examples, reign means to rule or prevail and rein means to control (as one controls a horse with reins). However "rule" and "control" aren't all that dissimilar, and horse-riding knowledge is arcane enough that it's worth trying a few additional tricks to remember which one is correct.
Here are a few tips with some examples from Stargate: Atlantis.
Reign with a "g" is related to regnum, or kingship, which was believed to be divinely bestowed by a god or gods. So anytime you can replace the word with rule, and/or there's a stated or implied "over," reign with a "g" is your choice.
Rodney's will reigned supreme in the lab [over his staff].
The Wraith's reign of terror over the Pegasus Galaxy had lasted for millennia.
Rein without the "g" is related to restraint, or the control one exerts as with a horse's reins. "Rule" also implies "control," but is inclusive of other concepts involved in power. Rein very narrowly focuses on the one aspect. The post by verilyverity covered three popular expressions using rein:
By far the most common, and most commonly misspelled, usage is "rein in." And as you can see, it has a handy built-in trick to help you remember that this is almost always the no-"g" version. There is a circumstance in which "reign in" is correct, but it is rarer and easy to distinguish. Note the following usages:
The Ancients did reign in the Pegasus Galaxy thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, they did not rein in some of their more dangerous scientists.
In the first sentence, you could replace "reign" with "rule" and/or replace "in" with "over." The preposition "in" is an integral part of the phrase "in the Pegasus Galaxy" modifying "reign." In the second sentence, "rein in" is a verb phrase referring to restraint; this is where you will have "rein in" always linked together.
Another popular phrase is about letting go of control: "free rein." As mentioned by verilyverity, it refers to loosening the reins and allowing a horse be free to go where it will. There is no such thing as "free reign." The memory trick isn't quite as exact-just two four-letter words with two vowels apiece-but once you get used to seeing it spelled correctly, it will look wrong when "reign" is used.
Teyla and Jeannie gave Torren and Madison free rein in the backyard, hoping they would tire out before evening.
The third major usage of "rein" should be fairly easy to distinguish: "take the reins." In the very limited, literal sense of referring to someone actually becoming a monarch, you could conceivably say that person "took the reign," but it would definitely be singular as there is only one rulership. In nearly every case (even referring to a new monarch), writers use "take the reins."
Again, literally, picture a carriage driver, picking up a rein in each hand and controlling the horses, steering the carriage onward. The image is also used metaphorically to refer to the person who takes over controlling a business, country, classroom, or other group or enterprise. That mental image of the carriage driver holding both reins can help you remember this one.
Woolsey eyed the gathered Lanteans with his usual mix of nervousness and bravado. "It was not my plan to take the reins from Colonel Carter. However I have been named Expedition Leader and hope to provide you with the support you need as you continue with your customary excellence."
In short, if you are referring to power such as the "ruling over" or "prevailing over" of a god-given king, use "reign." If you are referring to someone exerting more tight control ("reining in"), loosening control ("giving free rein"), or coming into control ("taking the reins"), you want "rein" with no "g."