This is the third in a series of short pieces on homophones. (In case you’re puzzled by that word, it has nothing to do with telephones that all look the same.)

Reign, Rein, Rain—the three “R”s

In most accents, these three words sound identical. They have very different meanings, yet far too many people confuse them. Let’s see if we can help change that.

Rain

Let’s start with the easy one, and the one that actually doesn’t figure too much in any confusion.

Rain is liquid precipitation. In the UK, it’s what cats and dogs and stair rods are used as a metaphor for. It’s what keeps Vancouver green and what causes Okotoks to flood from time to time. It’s vital for life; it’s part of the water cycle, and it seems to put in an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival every year.

Rain. Hope you’ve got it.

Reign

Kings and queens do this. They don’t rain. (Unless they’re drips.) Emperors do this too. Popes likewise. Tsars used to (are there any tsars left in the world?) No doubt there are other big cheeses who reign, but I think I’ve laboured the point sufficiently.

The period of time that these people spend in their exalted position is called a reign. Lady Jane Grey’s nine days as uncrowned Queen of England in 1553 was her reign.

So “reign” is a noun and a verb. It refers to rulers (and not the kind you measure with. Pay attention!)

Rein

Horses have these. They are one of the rider’s links to the horse. The reins are connected to the bit (the metal bar that goes in and across the horse’s mouth).

Like reign, rein can be both a noun and a verb. One uses the reins to rein in/up/back the horse.

Figures of Speech

From personal observation, I’d say that this is where most misuse occurs. Here are a few figures of speech that use these words properly.

The head coach’s two year reign came to an end when his team lost the championship.

Management keeps a tight rein on expenses.

I hate to rain on your parade, but…

Head coaches are not controlled by a rein (they’re motivated by wins, losses and the effects on their career of those phenomena.)

Management does not keep a tight reign on expenses. It may be true that they rule with an iron fist when it comes to expenses, but that rule is not referred to as a tight reign.

I wouldn’t rein in your parade. I wouldn’t reign over your parade. I might rain on your parade. The figure of speech paints a picture of the fun of a parade being taken away by the heavens opening. It doesn’t allude to using a horse’s reins to slow the parade down or whatever. And it sure as heck doesn’t mean that I want to be the parade king. (In any case, the symbolic head of a parade is usually referred to as a parade marshal; marshals serve—they don’t reign).

Summary

If it literally rains on your parade, your horse’s reins might get wet. If thunder and lightning spook that horse, confusion might reign in your parade.

Kings and queens may start their reigns on a rainy day, and if they travel in a horse-drawn coach to their coronation, the horses will be controlled by reins.

Watch your figures of speech. Make sure you use the right “r” word.

It doesn’t rein cats and dogs. Or stair rods.

And if you follow my advice, you’ll be right as rain.

Please Help Improve Yonder Pedant’s Ramblings

• Did I miss a typo? (I’ll feel bad when you tell me, but I’d rather you did tell me!)
• Did I write something that makes you want to turn green and burst out of your shirt?
• Do you have any better examples that you would share and allow me to use?

If so, please let me know by leaving a comment.