This wouldn’t be a proper Reddit replacement if an anonymous user didn’t take the time out of his day to type that “free rein” was the correct spelling here

[–] DarraignTheSane@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well damnit you are right - in both that it's not proper reddit replacement without grammar nazis, and that "free rein" is the usual term. It could be argued that reign also works in this case because some moderators seemed to be under the impression that they were unchallenged kings within their subreddit kingdoms.

[–] minimar@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It is?? I've been typing it wrong my whole life.

I'm still writing 'reign' though.

[–] starrox@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think "reign" is like "rule". - A king reigns over his people.

"Rein" is the thing that horse cart drivers use to control the horses. So the rope that goes from horses mouth to drivers hand. You can either "rein (in) the horses" for them to do something, or you can let them "free rein", meaning they can run as they please.

[–] minimar@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I always imagined it like a king being able to freely reign over his people - so that he can freely do whatever he wants in terms of governing them.

[–] starrox@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

well that interpretation certainly works here as well :)

[–] BrewJajaja@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then free reign could also be an eggcorn.

[–] starrox@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

Til what an eggcorn is. Yeah, absolutely.

[–] samus12345@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Same, but I'm happy to know the correct term.