free or freely

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jasonlulu_2000

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Perhaps those first horsemen, riding free across the wild, open plains, were enjoying a better world than the one we know today. They could travel at will, and the clock was not their master.

Should we say "riding free" or "riding freely"?

What's the difference?

Thanks!

Jason
 

BobK

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Free. Use freely when you're talking about parts of a machine: for example 'Make sure that the wheel revolves freely before fixing the cover in place.' You can also use it to refer to the movement of people between one place and another: 'After the agreement, they could come and go freely across the border'.

b
 

jasonlulu_2000

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Free. Use freely when you're talking about parts of a machine: for example 'Make sure that the wheel revolves freely before fixing the cover in place.' You can also use it to refer to the movement of people between one place and another: 'After the agreement, they could come and go freely across the border'.

b

But those first horsemen are also people. Shouldn't they fall into the second definition/situation you gave?
 

BobK

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No. 'Free' refers not to the way they rode or the direction they rode in, but to their state of mind.

b
 
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