Gems of My Crown ~ Rein vs. Reign

Yes, yes. Here we are again with another edition of Gems of My Crown. This week we're clearing up the confusion between rein and reign, two words that sound identical but have completely different meanings and origins.

Rein

The word rein comes from horseback riding. Reins are the straps attached to a horse’s bridle that a rider uses to guide or control the animal’s movement.

Because of this origin, the word is often used figuratively to describe controlling or restraining something.

Example:
She had to rein in her temper before responding.

Another example:
The manager tried to rein in the project’s growing budget.

Reign

The word reign refers to the period of time during which a monarch rules over a kingdom. It can also be used more broadly to describe someone or something holding power, influence, or dominance.

Example:
Queen Elizabeth II’s reign lasted more than seventy years.

Another example:
For years, that restaurant’s chef reigned as the city’s culinary favorite.

Though rein and reign sound exactly the same when spoken, their meanings are unrelated. One refers to control, while the other refers to rule or authority. Mixing them up can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

So if your character needs to rein in their emotions, make sure they’re not accidentally trying to reign them in instead.