Gransnet forums

Pedants' corner

Rein/ Reign

(29 Posts)
Georgesgran Thu 27-Oct-22 17:32:35

Ashley Banjo and Carol Vorderman are hosting the Pride of Britain Awards on TV tonight.
In the trailer, Ashley says ‘join Carol and I’…. It may be he wrote that himself, in which case he should’ve been told it’s Carol and me. Surely, a script writer should have known better though, if professionally written?

TwiceAsNice Thu 27-Oct-22 17:11:58

I hate this kind of thing too. Mixing up there and their drives me mad but my pet hate is was and were . Think singular ad plural

Elegran Thu 27-Oct-22 16:42:02

Perhaps people would remember which is which if they connected "free rein" with the rein that keeps a horse doing what the rider wants it to? If it is on free rein, the horse can do as it likes.

The other word, "reign" has a G in it. G for "govern" ? The monarch reigns/governs - at least they used to, before power shifted to Parliament.

sodapop Thu 27-Oct-22 16:13:24

I've lost count recently of the number of times I've seen ' free reign ' written in the press and other places.
Free rein - freedom of action or expression
Reign - rule as a monarch
It's annoying for a pedant but not so much for others I know before I get shouted at.