When to Use “Lie” versus “Lay”
A common word usage question is when to use “lie” versus “lay.” Here’s a quick tutorial with the meanings and rules for lie and lay.
Lie:
One usage of the verb “lie” means “to recline”
- I am going to lie down on the sofa for awhile.
- Watch the lion lie down on the grass.
However… the past tense of “lie” is “lay”
- I only lay in bed for half an hour.
- The lion lay there until he got hungry.
And… the past participle is “lain”
- I have lain in bed longer than I should have.
- Had the lion lain there all day, he would have missed supper.
Lay:
A common usage of the verb “lay” means “to put or set down”
- I am planning to lay my purse on that table.
Past tense is “laid”
- I laid my purse on that table just ten minutes ago.
Past participle is also “laid”
- I have laid my purse on that table every day for a month.
Of course “lie” also means to fib, but that’s not the one we confuse with “lay.” And we could “lay a bet” or “lay a plan” or “lay the table for dinner,” but these are not confused with “lie.”
Bottom line:
You don’t “lay down” in bed, nor would you have “laid in bed for a nap.”
You LIE down but you LAY something else down, when speaking in the present tense, which is where most of the mistakes come from with the lie-lay situation.
When to Use “Loan” versus “Lend”
Loan and lend are misused so frequently – even in print and TV advertising – that it’s no wonder so many of us get the word usages mixed up. Loan is a noun; lend is a verb. That’s the bottom line.
Loan is a noun:
- I asked the bank for a loan.
Lend is a verb:
- Will you lend me some money?
Incorrect: The bank will loan me $100,000 to buy a house.
Correct: The bank will lend me $100,000 – or – The loan from the bank is for $100,000.
Incorrect: I loaned her my best sweater.
Correct: I lent her my best sweater.
When I’m in doubt about a correct word usage, I look in my The Chicago Manual of Style. It’s got everything.
When to Use “Affect” versus “Effect”
When to use affect vs. effect is confusing – for good reason. Since the 1400s, these words have been more or less interchangeable, with meanings passing back and forth between them. Here’s today’s accepted word usage.
Affect
“Affect” is mostly used a verb that means “to influence” or “to change.”
- The state of the economy can affect a person’s buying habits.
- In many circles, your clothing affects how you are perceived.
However… “affect” as a noun describes a feeling or emotion and is a term used most often in psychology.
Effect
“Effect” is most often used a noun meaning “result.”
- The effect of his naval training was a well-run ship.
- Every cause has an effect.
However… “effect” is sometimes used as a verb meaning “to accomplish” or “to bring about.”
They hope to effect a settlement of the dispute before the weekend.
He effected a studious demeanor, thinking it would impress his teachers.