Thank you, Mitt Romney, for raining on my wilting blog.
If you hadn’t noticed, the Word Nymph’s crop of lexicological sustenance has been as dry as the American plains. Until today.
The presumptive GOP nominee has given us occasion for instruction on a homonym we haven’t addressed in this place. In announcing his selection of a running mate, Romney’s press release said of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.):
“He is Chairman of the House Budget Committee, where he has worked tirelessly leading the effort to reign in federal spending and increase accountability to taxpayers.”
Did you spot it?
Reign in federal spending. Wrong. It’s rein. As in a strap controlling an animal.
Perhaps Mitt was going for the pun. Or maybe his error was hopeful of his intent to reign in the new year. That’s reign, as royalty on a throne.
We see the spellings of these often confused.
It’s rote to me, but here’s a little clue to help get it straight:
Rein – think of Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer
Reign – pertains sovereign occupation of the throne. Sovereign has a g in it; so does reign.
Keep ‘em coming, Mitt. It’s been a long drought.
Word Nymph 