A friend recently told me that she was laying low until after New Year’s. Alarm bells went off in my head as I wondered, “Doesn’t she mean she is lying low?”
Many of us are perplexed about the difference between lying low and laying low. The problem arises from a deeper confusion about the difference between lie and lay. In my book on business writing, Get to the Point!, I list many commonly misused words, including these two biggies. Let’s take a look:
LIE VERSUS LAY
LIE (verb or noun) means to recline or rest on a surface. This verb does not take an object. You lie on the bed, lie down, or you are lying down. Lie (verb or noun) also means an untruth or a false statement.
After I exercise, I like to lie on the couch for a few minutes.
He is lying down now, so I won’t bother him.
LAY (verb) means to put or place something on a surface. Lay must be followed by an object, such as in “lay the book down” or “chickens lay eggs.”
I am laying my keys on the table.
The mother lays her baby in the crib.
Using both in the same sentence, we have:
She lays out her clothes for the next morning every night before she lies down to sleep.
Perils of Past Tenses
So why do we get so confused? As it turns out, lay has another meaning as well. It is also the past tense of lie! What’s the past tense of lay, you ask? That would be laid. Don’t you love the English language?
Lie-Lay
So, you would write,
He told me to lie down, and I lay down.
In this sentence, lie is in the present tense in the first half of the sentence (He told me to lie down) and in the past tense in the second half of the sentence (I lay down).
Lay-Laid
But you would write,
He told me to lay it down, and I laid it down.
This sentence follows the same pattern as the first one, with the present tense of lay in the first half and the past tense in the second.
Disentangling Lying Low from Laying Low
Now that we’ve sorted out lie and lay, we can move on to the phrases that contain them.
Lie low means to hide or conceal oneself. It does not have an object.
Let’s lie low until the heat dies down.
They plan to lie low until after the holidays.
Lay low requires a direct object of the word lay. In other words, we don’t just lay low; we lay something low. So, the phrase lay low might well be rewritten as lay [something] low. It implies felling someone with a blow or knocking them down.
The tornado may lay low large parts of the state.
I told him that this love affair would lay him low.
Unfortunately, the same past-tense issues that plagued us with lay and lie pursue us into these phrases.
Lie Low—Lay Low
The past tense of lie low is lay low. Oh, the English language!
After the robbery, the thief lay low for several weeks.
The disgraced CEO lay low for a year after his release from prison; then he wrote a best-selling memoir.
Lay Low—Laid Low
The past tense of lay low is laid low.
He planned to attend the event, but he was laid low by Covid.
His opponent’s punch laid him low.
Now You Won’t Have to Lie Low
Lay and lie are tricky words to navigate. However, you show yourself to be a more literate person when you use them correctly.
I hope that I have laid low any doubts you had about lay and lie. Now I’m going to lie low until it’s time to write the next Writamin.
PS: Please let me know what you think of the new Writamins format! And remember to share any burning questions you want answered in a future Writamin.
Take me to your leader! Communication woes drain the lifeblood from an organization. Connect me with your decision-makers and see how Worktalk can transform communication in your world. Contact me at lizd@worktalk.com or 310.396.8303.
About Worktalk
Worktalk prepares teams to write clearly and confidently amid the pressures of constant communication. Our trainings and webinars equip individuals with the mindset and tactics to strengthen credibility, increase influence, and generate new possibilities.
If you’re wondering how Worktalk might make a difference in your organization, call Liz Danziger at 310.396.8303 or email lizd@worktalk.com.
Learn to Be a Better Writer!
If you enjoy Writamins, you will enjoy Get to the Point! Painless Advice for Writing Memos, Letters, and Emails Your Colleagues and Clients Will Understand, 2nd edition. The book contains the essence of the Worktalk writing training program and reinforces the resources of Writamins. Buy yours today!
I have long known there was something wrong when people said they laid on the bed (yeah – chickens lay, people don’t), and I have very much appreciated this very clear explanation of why people ‘laying down’ or ‘laying low’ is just plain wrong.
I’m glad you appreciated the clarification. Does that lay your doubts to rest?
This was very helpful. Thank you!
Glad to hear it! If you subscribe to Writamins, you will receive them in your inbox every month.