I know. Scary, right? Your professional creditably left to Word?
*shivers*
I hope this helps you--and forces this dang rule to stick in my brain.
LAY
A transitive verb (meaning it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun that receives the action of the verb).
It means to put or place.
Forms: lay, laying, laid, (have) laid
LIE
An intransitive verb that does not have an object.
It means to incline.
Forms: lie, lying, lay, (have) lain
Did you spot that? Lay appears as a form for both words! No wonder so many of us are confused! It's a conspiracy, I tell ya!
And look what's coming out this weekend.
Anybody planning to go to the opening?
Hubby and I'll have to go next Monday.
This is an awesome post! And perfectly posted on the right day. My grandma and mother were just talking about this. Quite funny actually.
ReplyDeleteLizzy and I are seeing Avengers on Saturday night! :)
Konstanz Silverbow
nothoughts2small.blogspot.com
My son is totally rabid to go to Avengers for his birthday. In fact, he has a visitor here discussing all things Marvel. AAAaaaahhhhhh Geekout!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of conversations with my father. He's sort of a grammar freak (I'd say nazi but he'd flay me alive for paring his name with it.) He was always telling us things like, "Are you a chicken? Hens lay eggs. You're going to LIE down."
It is most confusing I agree. That's the English language for you.....lol
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
This pops up so much in pretty much every manuscript I edit. And I wouldn't trust Word--there are times Word tells me that it should be one or the other and I'm like "YOU ARE WRONG, WORD, WRONG." And sometimes it is correct. ;)
ReplyDeleteI cut the page out of my daughter's grammar workbook that had the explanation for Lay and Lie on it and taped it to the side of my computer, so I can see it instantly while I'm writing. Now I just need to do the same for Affect and Effect. I have to look those up every time I use them too. LOL.
ReplyDeleteLaura, as you caught me doing. And Word makes me even nuttier (is that possible?) because it would do the green underline thingy, so I'd accept its recommended change it. Then the green underline thingy would come back and would change it back. See, even Word is conflicted!
ReplyDeleteRachelle, generally, I'm better with Affect and Effect because the A=Adverb sticks. Mostly. =D
Oh yes, I will be at the first showing on Friday!
ReplyDeleteAbout Word Grammar check: it's as confused as everyone else. Like Donna says, it criticizes itself as much as it criticizes you.
ReplyDeleteLie/lay: Lie down. Lay an egg. Everything is easy to remember with a chicken! ;->
Yeah, this one always drives me crazy, especially since the present tense of one is the past tense of the other one.
ReplyDeleteForget letting Word decide! No matter which one I use, Word underlines it as a mistake and suggests the other one. Then, when I change it, Word underlines it as a mistake and suggests the one I had before.
I've had days when spell check can't decide. It tells me it needs to one way. I change it to that, and it tells me it needs to be the other way!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to the opening, but my son does want to see the movie so I know I'll be seeing it at some point.
Yeah lay and lie is a pain in the butt sometimes. Will see it soon enough, not sure on the opening though.
ReplyDelete*gasp* Penny, that's brilliant about the chicken. Now if I can just remember it. =D
ReplyDeleteI used to have to look this one up all the time. The way I always remember it is that you lay your head down, but when you sleep, you lie down (as in your whole self.) This is actually one that Word usually gets right.
ReplyDeleteYikes...this is embarrassing, but I usually just come up with a different verb rather than risk an error :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the help. I still sometimes get the two mixed up. Lay usually sounds right when really I should use lie.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading that, I may have to lie down. ;) Thanks, Donna!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! Lay and lie always trip me up.
ReplyDeleteAlso affect and effect, but I think I finally may have gotten that one down. Woo hoo!
I love lay vs. lie. Everyone thinks you are a genius for knowing the difference, and it never hurts to feel like a genius.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting my novel edited soon and I know the lay/lie thing will be one of the biggest problems. I hate that it's still a rule.
ReplyDeleteThis is one quite a handful other commonly confused words in the English language that slip by us all the time.
ReplyDelete"The Avengers" is out in Asia already. I definitely have to go see it this weekend.
Very tricky rule. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteI have a confession - I have a hard time with grammar - I am sure I use the wrong spellings and tense! Love, sandie
ReplyDeletethanks! i always struggle w/those!
ReplyDeleteso a person lies and an object is laid (this will help using the double meaning of lie =)
Nice, Donna. I love little grammar tidbits! And I have to secretly admit that the Avengers looks REALLY good, LOL...
ReplyDeleteI always get confused and I even have a wonderful book called "Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay."
ReplyDeleteYears ago an agent pointed this difference to me and I felt embarrassed. At least now it's ingrained in my memory.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten better with the lay/lie usage. Still frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAvengers is the first movie since the last HP film I've wanted to see in theaters. Still trying to pick a day to go.
Have fun/learn lots at Storymakers!
Melanie
I've gotten better with the lay/lie usage. Still frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAvengers is the first movie since the last HP film I've wanted to see in theaters. Still trying to pick a day to go.
Have fun/learn lots at Storymakers!
Melanie
Love the toon.
ReplyDeleteI have to lie down and lay still for a while because that conundrum gave me a headache...lol...kt
ReplyDeleteI always, always, always, always have to look these two up when writing! Great post, Donna!
ReplyDeleteLie and Lay--yeah, my pet peeve!! Very well-done post, Donna!!
ReplyDelete