Which to use
“reins” is a noun and “retains” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #19,436
- “reins” frequency rank
- #12,314
- “retains” frequency rank
- 31750
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | reins | retains |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | plural of rein | third-person singular simple present indicative of retain |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set reins and retains apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: reins is /ɹeɪnz/ while retains is /ɹɪˈteɪnz/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 2 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 31750, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
reins is recorded at frequency rank #19,436, classified as anoun, pronounced /ɹeɪnz/. retains is at rank #12,314, tagged as averb, pronounced /ɹɪˈteɪnz/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 31750, this pair ranks #343,529 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of reins vs retains
Shared letters: einrs. Private to "reins": -. Private to "retains": at.
"reins" · 5 letters · shape CVVCC · "retains" · 7 letters · shape CVCVVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "reins" and "retains" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "reins" or "retains"?
Remembering reins vs retains
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “reins”; for a verb, it's “retains”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “reins” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable