Free rein vs. free reign The usual spelling of the phrase meaning - TopicsExpress



          

Free rein vs. free reign The usual spelling of the phrase meaning freedom to do as one pleases is free rein, not free reign. The latter is a common misspelling, and it almost makes sense given reign‘s meaning (i.e., the exercise of sovereign power). But free rein, an allusion to horseback riding, is the original form, and it is much more common in published texts. The OED lists instances of its use from as long ago as the 17th century.1 As the ngram below suggests, free reign is a much newer development.
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 23:42:30 +0000

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