Let’s talk about rain, reign, and rain. Three words that sound the same but live wildly different lives. Imagine them as triplets at a family reunion: Rein’s the horse-obsessed control freak, Reign’s the pompous king who won’t stop monologuing, and Rain’s the weepy one who soaks everyone’s picnic.

Mixing them up can turn your sentence into a comedy sketch, so here’s a sweet little guide to using them right, courtesy of some imaginary disasters.

First up, rein. Picture cowboy Carl, galloping across the plains on his trusty steed, Stinky. Carl’s got the reins — those leather straps he yanks to stop Stinky from charging into a saloon. “I need to rein in this horse before he drinks all the whiskey!” Carl hollers.

Rein is all about control, whether it’s a horse, your temper, or your buddy Dave who’s about to karaoke “Sweet Caroline” for the third time. So, when Carl says, “I’m reining in my gambling habit,” he’s not ruling Vegas — he’s just trying not to bet Stinky on a poker game.

Now, reign. Think of King Pompous III, perched on his throne, wearing a crown so heavy it’s giving him a neck cramp. He loves to reign, meaning he rules over his kingdom of grumpy peasants and one very bored jester. “My reign shall be remembered for its glorious tax hikes!” he declares, while the jester juggles turnips to stay awake.

Reign is for royalty or anyone lording over something, like your cat reigning over the couch. If Pompous brags, “I reigned in chaos,” he’s wrong; he didn’t control it, he just sat on it like a fancy cushion. Or, maybe he actually did reign during a chaotic period.

Finally, rain. This one’s easy. Picture Debbie, the cloud with a permanent case of the Mondays. She’s sobbing water all over your parade. “It’s going to rain on my wedding!” wails the bride, as Debbie drenches the cake. Rain is wet, simple as that. If Debbie says, “I’ll rain in my emotions,” she’s just confused and probably leaking puddles anyway.

So, here’s the trick: if you’re steering or controlling something, use rein, like Carl with Stinky. If you’re ruling like a boss, go with reign, like Pompous. If it’s falling from the sky, it’s rain, thanks to Debbie. Get them wrong, and you’ll have Carl reigning over a soggy kingdom while Debbie reins in the clouds. And that’s a rodeo no one wants to see.

“Rein, think leather leads on a horse. Reign, what kings do. Rain, the wet stuff.” I’ve actually emailed that to professional writers who got it wrong. True story.