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Episode Transcript

Sit Versus Set
Episode 88: December 14, 2007

Grammar Girl here. Today's topic is sit versus set.

When I did a show about lay versus lie many months ago, listeners wrote in asking me to do a follow up show on sit versus set because the problem with sit and set is similar to the problem with lay and lie -- so here it is!

Like lay, the verb set requires an object. You set something, the object, down. For example, I set the book on the desk. Or if you want to get more abstract, you can set a date. There is some object that receives the action of the verb. In my examples, it is the book and the date. On the other hand, like lie, sit doesn't require a direct object; it's something you do. I sit on the sofa.

Verbs, such as set, which require an object are called “transitive verbs,” and verbs, such as sit, which don't require an object are called “intransitive verbs.” The way I remember the difference is to think of transitive verbs as transferring their action to an object.

I also have a good memory trick to help you remember the difference between sit and set. When you're training a dog, you tell her to sit. My first dog's name was Dude and she was a girl, so we would tell her, “Sit, Dude. Sit.” And she would plop her little bottom down. She was a good dog. She was a bull mastiff, so actually her bottom wasn't that little.

So get that image in your mind of a big bull mastiff responding to the command “Sit.” That is how you use sit – for the action of sitting.

Set, on the other hand, requires an object. I would set Dude's leash on the table, but she would still think we were going for a walk. I know she saw me set it down, but she was always full of hope. In those example, the leash and the word it were the objects. I set the leash on the table, and she saw me set it down.

So remember that a dog (or person) sits, and you set things like leashes down.

Because I'm traveling and it's the holidays, I'm going to take next week off, so there won't be a new show, but I'll be back on the 27^th with a new episode. Until then, thank you all for listening and for those of you who are celebrating Christmas, have a very happy and safe holiday.

Comments (15) for Sit Versus Set | Subscribe to Comment

Dianne Says:
10/3/2008 8:06:53 PM

When someone says something you don't like, would you say "That doesn't sit well with me" or "That doesn't set well with me"z/ I would pick the first way if it means the thing you said doesn't sit in my brain very well, but might it mean that the thing you said doesn't come together in my brain, as in "the glue needs to set"?

Mary Says:
9/20/2008 7:58:45 AM

The difference between sit and set as intransitive and transitive isn't hard. But what happens when we talk about things and people already at rest in their places. People sit in their chairs. Inanimate objects set where they have been placed. IE: The computer is setting on the countertop. No?

rpmason Says:
1/4/2008 2:59:30 PM

John's right. Sit can mean to cause to be seated. You can set the child in the chair or you can sit the child in the chair. Even so, you don't sit the leash on the table, which was GG's topic.

John Says:
1/3/2008 11:00:36 AM

As I said, M-W lists "cause to be seated" as one of the meanings of "sit": 1: to cause to be seated : place on or in a seat —often used with down So there's nothing wrong with "I sat the child in the chair."

Steve Says:
12/28/2007 2:23:50 PM

To John. I don't believe you're correct in saying "I sat the child..." You set the child (object) in his chair is correct. Just as you set yourself (object) down at the table! The setting sun example is good. It's a different verb from set: to place.

steve Says:
12/22/2007 4:43:17 PM

I thought this was very interesting (as are all of the episodes). I was wondering where sat sits?

Grammar Girl Says:
12/22/2007 1:40:16 PM

rpmason: We're hoping to expand the website in 2008 so it is easier for people to have more complex discussions.

Tiffany Says:
12/17/2007 5:46:10 PM

Very informative.

rpmason Says:
12/17/2007 10:32:58 AM

Are we scaring away GG's target audience: those who still hesitate when deciding between set and sit? "Transitive? Intransitive? Holy moly, I’ll never get it..." Maybe someone could set up a separate list/group/forum and use GG's posts as fodder to discuss the finer points. And yes, I’ve brought up the finer points here, too.

Gabriel Says:
12/16/2007 1:51:02 AM

I agree with some of the previous comments that the usage is a bit more nuanced than you let on. But I think the transitive/intransitive distinction takes care of most cases, with exceptions like "the sun sets." Now that you've covered lie/lay and sit/set, is it time for rise/raise? Are there others?

Jessica Says:
12/16/2007 12:13:48 AM

I was a little disappointed that you didn't address the situations in which people might actually mix up these words. The descriptions you gave seemed rather obvious -- I thought, who doesn't know this? But when I thought about examples that would contradict the rules, such as the expression "to sit someone down," I wondered why you didn't address these.

John Says:
12/14/2007 5:40:45 PM

One meaning of "sit", according to Merriam-Webster, is "to cause to be seated" and it is transitive. "sit" and "set" are usually used the way Grammar Girl describes them (intransitive and transitive respectively), but "sit" can be used transitively and "set" can be used intransitively.

Mike Says:
12/14/2007 5:14:52 PM

John, I think that it may be more proper to say "I set the child in his chair." One meaning of set, according to Merriam-Webster, is "to cause to sit : place in or on a seat." GG, have a nice holiday trip.

Drew Says:
12/14/2007 5:10:46 PM

For Want of a Comma --Exploring the two sides of a punctuation debate. Magazine article: http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2004.04-sightings-comma-usage/

John Says:
12/14/2007 9:37:16 AM

just to confuse matters, what about these sentences: The sun sets. I sat the child in his chair.