is set to lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is set to lay" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "is set to lie." You can use it when indicating that something is scheduled or planned to occur in the future, particularly in contexts involving positioning or resting.
Example: "The new policy is set to lie in effect starting next month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The American firm is set to lay off 6,000 of its 28,000 American employees, owing to the fall in work.

The Economist

Experian is set to lay off hundreds of staff as the credit-checking company comes to terms with a slump in spending by US and UK banks.

The Guardian - Business

Connecticut is set to lay off 2,800 workers next month if the unions do not agree to cuts in their pay raises and a 5percentt increase in their health insurance premiums.

The New York Times

This came on the heels of report that states RIM is set to lay off a major chunk of its workforce.

TechCrunch

Later this year, France is set to lay out how its banks will need to include climate factors in routine stress tests of their resilience to market shocks.

Huffington Post

On the heels of a photo released last week that gave a first look at Yaya DaCosta done up as the late-singer, comes news that singer Deborah Cox is set to lay down the vocals.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The range of projections is pretty broad: GDP growth in 2001, for instance, is set to lie somewhere between 2.6% and 3.6%.

The Economist

Both firms are set to lay off thousands of employees to cut costs.

Forbes

Control and experimental crosses were set to lay at 25°C at the same time and were analyzed for viability at two time intervals: (1) from embryo (day 0) to pupation (day 5); and (2) from pupation (day 5) to adulthood (day 10).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

The struggling web pioneer is set to lay-off staff and sell some businesses to boost profitability but the share sale is likely to value it at just $3 billion, some way off its $163 billion valuation at the time of the merger in 2000.

The Economist

Not far beneath the slapstick humor and communitarian spirit of Mr. Gondry's movie (which had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last week and is set to open Feb. 22) lies a strong nostalgia for a technology that revolutionized home viewing but now seems destined for the dustbin of history.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check whether you intend to use "lie" or "lay". "Lie" (to recline) is often the correct choice for "is set to lie", indicating a future state of reclining or being situated. "Lay" (to place something down) requires a direct object.

Common error

A frequent mistake is using "lay" when "lie" is grammatically correct. Remember that "lay" is a transitive verb (requires a direct object), while "lie" is intransitive (does not take a direct object). Avoid using "is set to lay" when you mean "is set to lie", such as in the context of reclining.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is set to lay" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a scheduled or intended action. However, it's often misused due to confusion with the verb "lie", which means to recline. As noted by Ludwig, the correct phrase is often "is set to lie".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is set to lay" is often used to indicate a scheduled or intended action. However, it's crucial to distinguish it from the similar-sounding "is set to lie". As Ludwig AI highlights, "is set to lay" is grammatically incorrect unless a direct object is specified. The confusion stems from the misuse of "lay" and "lie", where "lay" requires a direct object, and "lie" refers to reclining. Therefore, always double-check your intended meaning and grammatical structure to ensure correct usage. While examples exist across various sources, careful attention to grammar is essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is scheduled to lay

Replaces "set" with "scheduled", emphasizing the planning aspect but does not correct the grammar.

is expected to lay

Substitutes "set" with "expected", focusing on anticipation but does not correct the grammar.

is going to lay

Uses a more informal "going to" instead of "set to", but does not correct the grammar.

is about to lay

Indicates imminence rather than a firm plan, but does not correct the grammar.

is prepared to lay

Suggests readiness or willingness for an action, but does not correct the grammar.

is positioned to lay

Focuses on readiness and strategic advantage, but does not correct the grammar.

is designed to lay

Highlights intentional design for a specific purpose, but does not correct the grammar.

is intended to lay

Emphasizes the intended purpose or goal, but does not correct the grammar.

is meant to lay

Similar to 'intended', but with a sense of predetermination; does not correct the grammar.

is slated to lay

Highlights a formal scheduling or assignment, but does not correct the grammar.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "is set to lay" or "is set to lie"?

The correct form depends on the context. "Is set to lie" is used when referring to reclining or being in a horizontal position. "Is set to lay" is grammatically incorrect unless you are referring to the action of placing something down.

How can I use "is set to lie" in a sentence?

You can use "is set to lie" to describe something that is going to be in a reclining or resting position. For example, "The foundation is set to lie undisturbed for centuries."

What can I say instead of "is set to lay" if I mean 'to put something down'?

If you mean 'to put something down', you can say "is going to lay" or "is planning to lay" followed by the object being laid.

What's the difference between "is set to lie" and "is set to lay"?

"Is set to lie" refers to something being in a reclining or resting position in the future. "Is set to lay" is incorrect unless a direct object is specified because 'lay' requires a direct object.