Comments on: Free Rein or Free Reign? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/free-rein-or-free-reign/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:53:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: David de la Fuente http://www.dailywritingtips.com/free-rein-or-free-reign/comment-page-1/#comment-394946 David de la Fuente Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:22:38 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2424#comment-394946 As far as people getting different Google results, if your browser recognizes you as a registered Google user, you're getting different results than anyone else in the world. Google's analytics and algorithms are tailored to individual users, as I learned in Eli Pariser's book "The Filter Bubble," and that's why everyone's numbers are different above. (The book laments this trend, saying that serendipity and exposure to new ideas is lost when Google and other sites like news and entertainment learn to give you exactly what you're looking for first, but that trend, like "free reign," is here to stay as well.) As far as people getting different Google results, if your browser recognizes you as a registered Google user, you’re getting different results than anyone else in the world. Google’s analytics and algorithms are tailored to individual users, as I learned in Eli Pariser’s book “The Filter Bubble,” and that’s why everyone’s numbers are different above. (The book laments this trend, saying that serendipity and exposure to new ideas is lost when Google and other sites like news and entertainment learn to give you exactly what you’re looking for first, but that trend, like “free reign,” is here to stay as well.)

]]> By: Stephen Sanders http://www.dailywritingtips.com/free-rein-or-free-reign/comment-page-1/#comment-394910 Stephen Sanders Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:32:12 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2424#comment-394910 I am so glad I found this. It seems that in matters of certain areas including basics of usage and grammar, it often simply no longer matters what is correct or not. In the ever shifting world of I simply have termed "Social Tropism" the thing (for better or worse) what matters most is not simply what is correct, but rather what "most people" think is correct. Utilizing a word's multiple connotations as an aspect of what makes the writing process so expansive and rich. I suppose that Google plays a huge role in this Paradigm-Shift info by making all these "new statistics" available with a few simple keystrokes. Conclusion: "What do you want, good grammar or strong SEO?"- Stephen C. Sanders, Jan 10, 2012, 1:32pm EST Stephen C. Sanders I am so glad I found this. It seems that in matters of certain areas including basics of usage and grammar, it often simply no longer matters what is correct or not.

In the ever shifting world of I simply have termed “Social Tropism” the thing (for better or worse) what matters most is not simply what is correct, but rather what “most people” think is correct.

Utilizing a word’s multiple connotations as an aspect of what makes the writing process so expansive and rich. I suppose that Google plays a huge role in this Paradigm-Shift info by making all these “new statistics” available with a few simple keystrokes.

Conclusion: “What do you want, good grammar or strong SEO?”- Stephen C. Sanders, Jan 10, 2012, 1:32pm EST

Stephen C. Sanders

]]> By: Steve http://www.dailywritingtips.com/free-rein-or-free-reign/comment-page-1/#comment-393445 Steve Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:22:44 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2424#comment-393445 Does "free reign" or "free rein" matter? You bet it does! I recently wrote content in an advertising campaign, telling people to pressure their government to "reign in" something. What I really meant was for them to "rein in ..." and so I completely distorted the intended meaning. Own goal. Shot in foot. Does “free reign” or “free rein” matter?

You bet it does!

I recently wrote content in an advertising campaign, telling people to pressure their government to “reign in” something. What I really meant was for them to “rein in …” and so I completely distorted the intended meaning.

Own goal. Shot in foot.

]]> By: Linda http://www.dailywritingtips.com/free-rein-or-free-reign/comment-page-1/#comment-392494 Linda Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:52:33 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2424#comment-392494 My personal bete noir (sorry, I can't find the circumflex --- or circonflex as the French would have it --- to put over the "e") is "flush it out" when people mean "flesh it out." It bothers me so much I will stop a meeting and correct the flusher. They probably are thinking of flushing out a covey of quail and not flushing the toilet, ick. But it's still wrong. And yes, fleshing out a skeletal concept is kind of icky too, but... Oh here's another one: "step foot" as in "He won't step foot in her house again." Arghhhh! These people have conflated step with set foot --- and there you are: a monstrosity. What else would one "step" with? Step hand? Step face? Step gluteus maximus? You can't even "step" a foot. You step. You set foot. Whew, glad I got that off my .... I just read "free reign" in a book I had been enjoying. After that phrase bit me, I had to google it, and that's how I got here. Step foot indeed. Free reign indeed. My personal bete noir (sorry, I can’t find the circumflex — or circonflex as the French would have it — to put over the “e”) is “flush it out” when people mean “flesh it out.” It bothers me so much I will stop a meeting and correct the flusher. They probably are thinking of flushing out a covey of quail and not flushing the toilet, ick. But it’s still wrong. And yes, fleshing out a skeletal concept is kind of icky too, but…

Oh here’s another one: “step foot” as in “He won’t step foot in her house again.” Arghhhh! These people have conflated step with set foot — and there you are: a monstrosity. What else would one “step” with? Step hand? Step face? Step gluteus maximus? You can’t even “step” a foot. You step. You set foot.

Whew, glad I got that off my ….

I just read “free reign” in a book I had been enjoying. After that phrase bit me, I had to google it, and that’s how I got here. Step foot indeed. Free reign indeed.

]]> By: ridley http://www.dailywritingtips.com/free-rein-or-free-reign/comment-page-1/#comment-392486 ridley Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:36:59 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2424#comment-392486 I love the original "free rein" spelling of the phrase. Partly because of having read the horsey book "Hold The Rein Free" as an impressionable child. But also because, if you know horses at all, "free rein" has a very powerful imagery behind it that "free reign" utterly lacks. As a onetime rider I have vivid memories of giving horses free rein, usually in one in 3 situations. (1) You've just finished your lessons/workout/show/whatever, you give your horse free rein as you're coming out of the ring, and your horse instantly knows that its workout is over. It streeeetches its neck down, and slows into a meandering saunter....it gives a big happy sigh... happy horse! (2) You're riding a fresh horse who really wants to run. You reach the racetrack/beach/whatever, you give your horse free rein and BOOM! Off like a shot of lightning! (This is one of the single most exciting sensations in the world.) (3) You know your horse so well and trust it so much, and your horse knows and trusts you so well, that you give it free rein right in the middle of whatever you're doing (trailriding/whatever), simply handing over command to the horse. 9 times out of 10 the horse doesn't let you down but carries on about its task with sensible good judgment and a better work ethic than most people would show. t's a really sweet moment to reach that level of mutual trust with a new horse. In any of those three situations there is a powerful sense that you are very deliberately handing over control to the horse. And the horses most definitely know it. "Free reign" seems unbearably bland in comparison. I love the original “free rein” spelling of the phrase. Partly because of having read the horsey book “Hold The Rein Free” as an impressionable child. But also because, if you know horses at all, “free rein” has a very powerful imagery behind it that “free reign” utterly lacks. As a onetime rider I have vivid memories of giving horses free rein, usually in one in 3 situations. (1) You’ve just finished your lessons/workout/show/whatever, you give your horse free rein as you’re coming out of the ring, and your horse instantly knows that its workout is over. It streeeetches its neck down, and slows into a meandering saunter….it gives a big happy sigh… happy horse! (2) You’re riding a fresh horse who really wants to run. You reach the racetrack/beach/whatever, you give your horse free rein and BOOM! Off like a shot of lightning! (This is one of the single most exciting sensations in the world.) (3) You know your horse so well and trust it so much, and your horse knows and trusts you so well, that you give it free rein right in the middle of whatever you’re doing (trailriding/whatever), simply handing over command to the horse. 9 times out of 10 the horse doesn’t let you down but carries on about its task with sensible good judgment and a better work ethic than most people would show. t’s a really sweet moment to reach that level of mutual trust with a new horse.

In any of those three situations there is a powerful sense that you are very deliberately handing over control to the horse. And the horses most definitely know it.

“Free reign” seems unbearably bland in comparison.

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