Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Today's topic is lay versus lie. Bruce grammar I've easily understood the correct usage of Lie and Lay at least partly because I've been reading science fiction since the middle '50's. And for some reason, science fiction authors -- at least from the 40's through the late 70's and 80's ALWAYS use it correctly! At least I don't think I've ever found a mistake. This site is "tips for better writing", and correct usage is good for most writing. However, in colloquial, spoken English, the correct past tense of "lie" is very rarely used. And if you do use it, there's a good chance you will be misunderstood or viewed as stuck up or just weird. It depends on your audience. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61798#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61798#Comments Fri, 10 May 2013 01:41:28 GMT Kathy Munroe grammar BBQ at work today. Trying my hardest not to ravage each and every hotdog lying/laying before me. Which is correct? Lying OR Laying http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61618#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61618#Comments Fri, 03 May 2013 21:38:26 GMT Grammar Giddy grammar I will come once I get the babies laid down for their naps. Right or wrong? I would lay down the baby in his bed. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61614#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61614#Comments Fri, 03 May 2013 17:00:52 GMT stripolias grammar Lay down your arms... and surrender to me :) Eddie Vedder is not Clapton or Dylan. He is right! :) http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61427#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61427#Comments Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:20:10 GMT Freddy Feelgood grammar I bet grammar girl is a good *lay. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61296#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61296#Comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:07:31 GMT James grammar It is said that to say, 'I laid down on the bed,' would be incorrect because laid is transitive. Now, the free dictionary has this meaning for lie: '1. To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline: He lay under a tree to sleep.' http://www.thefreedictionary.com/lay and this meaning for lay: '2. a. To place in or bring to a particular position: lay the cloth over the painting.' http://www.thefreedictionary.com/lie I propose that we consider the possibility it can be viewed as not incorrect to say, 'I laid down on the bed,' providing laid is unacknowledged as transitive directed toward an ellipsis (self). 'I laid a pillow on the bed.' 'I laid on the bed' = 'I laid [myself down] on the bed.' (Both the above are of the 2a meaning from above). The ellipsis exists due to 'myself' (without any other person or object mentioned) being obvious. I propose this might be a possibility because I think that, 'I lay on the bed,' (form of meaning 1 from above) would also have ambiguous meaning - it could be confused with meaning 3 or 4 of lie: '3. To be or remain in a specified condition: The dust has lain undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.' '4. a. To exist; reside: Our sympathies lie with the plaintiff.' http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Lie Honestly, confusion lies all around, doesn't it? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61041#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=61041#Comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:02:14 GMT Janet grammar I can't thank you enough for your help. I keep thinking I'm stupid because I can't figure out the nuances sometimes of verbs, like this lie and lay thing, but you always make me feel better. Not only do you clarify the issue, you give me ground for the difficulty. Yay, you! I thank you and my books thank you and I'm sure if they knew, my readers would thank you. You ROCK!!! I am sooo buying your book! Thanks again for being so easy to understand. I have a ton of grammar books, but they don't explain the rules as well as you do. You are my Grammar HERO! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=60445#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=60445#Comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:35:41 GMT Dana grammar *use http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=59830#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=59830#Comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:58:35 GMT Dana grammar I had a teacher in college that would always reply with the same statement when a student would you lay instead of lie. For instance, if a student said, "He went to lay down," she would respond, "Chickens lay eggs (objects); people lie down!" This helps me remember the present tense at least! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=59829#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=59829#Comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:57:12 GMT Gamze grammar To remember the past tense of Lay: I know that the past tense of Pay is Paid (y turns to i), therefore Laid. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=59441#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx?commentid=59441#Comments Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:11:37 GMT Fri, 10 May 2013 01:41:28 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us