I think that anyone who’s been around reddit long enough knew this was coming. Reddit isn’t a free and open platform, and never was. The admins allowed moderators free reign just so long as they didn’t do anything that reddit didn’t want.
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
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.
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.
I think that anyone who’s been around reddit long enough knew this was coming. Reddit isn’t a free and open platform, and never was. The admins allowed moderators free reign just so long as they didn’t do anything that reddit didn’t want.
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
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.
It is?? I’ve been typing it wrong my whole life.
I’m still writing ‘reign’ though.
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.
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.
well that interpretation certainly works here as well :)
Then free reign could also be an eggcorn.
Til what an eggcorn is. Yeah, absolutely.
Same, but I’m happy to know the correct term.