Writing Tip:  Reining In Meaning

I recently read a stock report which stated that the company had “reigned in its expenses.” How disappointing. Here was someone who knew about the stock market but had not learned that only kings reign. He meant that the company had reined in its expenses.  This distinction is easy to remember if you attach images to the words. Horses have reins; riders rein in their steeds.  The word reign contains the r-e-g root that we see in the word regal. Regal means kingly.  Kings reign in glory, provided of course that they have reined in any would-be usurpers.

Here are a few other word groups that are often misused:

Adverse versus Averse versus Aver

Adverse (adjective) means antagonistic, harmful, or unfavorable.

Averse (adjective) means literally “turning away from.” It implies a sense of being strongly disinclined or of having a feeling of opposition or distaste.

Aver (verb) means to assert or state.

He averred that he was not averse to canceling the trip if the circumstances were adverse.

Loath Versus Loathe

Loath (adjective) means unwilling, reluctant, or disinclined.

Loathe (verb) describes a feeling of intense revulsion or disgust.

I am loath to visit these people whom I loathe.

Flaunt versus Flout

Flaunt (verb) is to make a brazen or gaudy display.

Flout (verb) is to scoff at or defy with open contempt.

You don’t have to flaunt the fact that you are flouting the law.

Historic versus Historical

Historic (adjective) refers to an event of great and lasting importance.

Historical (adjective) refers to any occurrence in the distant past.

Every historical event is not necessarily historic.

Lie versus Lay

Lie (verb or noun) means to recline or rest on a surface. This verb does not take an object. You lie on the bed, lie down, or you are lying down.

Lie (verb or noun) also means an untruth or a false statement.

Lay (verb) means to put or place something on a surface. Lay must be followed by an object, such as in lay the book down or chickens lay eggs.

The past tense of lie is lay. This is tricky: the present tense of lay is lay, as in, “Now I lay me down to sleep….”  The past tense of lay is laid.

She laid out her clothes for the next day every night before she lay down to sleep.

Now that we have clarified the use of a few problematic pairs, I hope we can look forward to the uninterrupted reign of correct word choices.

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