Reddit rules index · read 2026-10-06
Can you promote on r/etymology?
No rule mentions promotion None of its rules mentions self-promotion. That is not permission: read every rule, say plainly that it's yours, and make the post useful on its own.
A rule mentions AI or bots One of its rules names AI or bots: read it before you post. Other communities' AI rules.
What this page is
This page quotes r/etymology's rules as ThreadFox read them on 2026-10-06. The quoted text is the community's; the verdict above is our reading of it. Conditions often decide whether a post fits (a required thread, flair, posting day, account age or karma), and r/etymology's current rules on Reddit always win over this page.
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- 387,053 members
- text and link posts
- its rules on Reddit
Discussing the origins of words and phrases, in English or any other language.
What its rules say about AI and bots
Don't use AI as evidence
Language models are an emerging tool that can often give assertive but specious answers. Please do not cite or rely upon AI tools when asking or answering questions on r/etymology.
All 6 rules of r/etymology
- Posts should be informative
Posts should have more information than just a link to a dictionary definition. Try to capture what's interesting about the etymology. - Keep it relevant to etymology
Etymology is the study of the origins of words and phrases, and how their meanings have changed. Posts should be on-topic or meta. - Perform basic research
Before posting a question, please use the resources in the subreddit sidebar to try to find an answer. - Questionable and original etymologies should have a warning
Etymologies and connections that are questionable, disputed, or speculative should include a warning, to avoid being misleading. If posting your own research that has not appeared in a peer-reviewed publication, use the post flair "OC, Not Peer-Reviewed". - Be nice
Disagreement is fine, but please keep your posts and comments friendly. - Don't use AI as evidence
Language models are an emerging tool that can often give assertive but specious answers. Please do not cite or rely upon AI tools when asking or answering questions on r/etymology.
What the written rules don't show
- Unpublished minimums. Many communities remove posts from new or low-karma accounts through AutoModerator settings that are not on the rules page, often before a moderator sees them.
- Reddit's own filters. Reddit's site-wide spam filters can remove posts from accounts that mostly share links to their own site, in any community.
- The community's norms. Many communities see themselves as peers, not an audience: post where you already take part, and make the post worth reading without the link.
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The verdict is our reading of r/etymology's rule text on 2026-10-06. Rules change and moderators decide: read the current rules before you post. Not affiliated with Reddit or r/etymology.