lay development

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay development" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misuse of "lay" instead of "laying" or "laying down," depending on the intended meaning. Example: "The company is focusing on laying development plans for the upcoming year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Further exposure of the Diabetes Manual to people with diabetes, through the lay development groups and the focus groups who read the penultimate draft, has been through contacts initiated via the diabetes voluntary sector.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's tempting to lay this development at the feet of Donald Trump, so much so that even Rush Limbaugh, who knows something of the subject, has compared Trump to an Internet troll.

The New Yorker

A literature search was conducted to inform the theoretical framework within which our research questions lay; the development of the topic guide; and the range and depth of perspectives sought.

BMC Oral Health

The key lies in development and, during development, the ordered way in which, at any one time, the cellular environment (itself, in part, the product of earlier gene action) switches on and off particular genes.

The Guardian - Books

His major governmental contribution lay in the development of provincial administrations through such chieftains.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Charles III maintained that the key to Spain's prosperity lay in the development of an American market in the Indies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Plans for development lay fallow until Tanzania's president, Jakaya Kikwete, announced a decision to proceed with the plant last year.

The New York Times

The answer, Upton believed, lay in the development of a computer that would give children the knowhow and inspiration they were missing.

The Guardian

He also has first right of access to the archive of South Bank Shows, though he said that development lay further down the line.

The Guardian

Through content analysis we unravel (i.e. deconstruct) the social processes that lay behind this development.

Journal of Rural Studies

At the bottom of its development lay the accumulated experiences from the cities like Moscow, St . Petersburg, Paris, Vienna, Berlinand others.

Procedia Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to setting the foundation for something, use the phrase "laying the groundwork" or "establishing the basis" instead of "lay development" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "lay" in contexts where "laying" (the present participle of "lay") or another verb such as "establishing" or "initiating" is more appropriate. "Lay" requires a direct object, while "lie" (to recline or be situated) does not.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay development" is intended to function as a noun phrase, likely describing the act of establishing or initiating development. However, it's grammatically flawed, as noted by Ludwig. It attempts to modify "development" with "lay" incorrectly.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lay development" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, the verb "lay" is misused here. Instead, consider alternatives such as "laying the groundwork for development" or "establishing a development plan". While examples can be found across various sources, including science, news, and encyclopedias, the incorrect grammar significantly reduces its credibility. Therefore, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to convey the intended meaning of foundational or preparatory development stages.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

laying the groundwork for development

Changes "lay" to the present participle "laying" and adds "the groundwork for" to clarify the meaning as preparing for future development.

establishing a development plan

Replaces "lay" with "establishing" and specifies "development plan" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

initiating development strategies

Uses "initiating" instead of "lay" to indicate the start of development strategies.

underlying development factors

Shifts the focus to the foundational aspects of development with a corrected verb usage.

fundamental development principles

Emphasizes the core principles that support development.

basic development concepts

Focuses on the foundational concepts of development.

preparatory activities for development

Highlights the actions taken in preparation for development.

development's foundational stage

Refers to the initial phase where the groundwork for development is laid.

development pre-requisites

Emphasizes the necessary conditions that must be met before development can proceed.

the basis for development

Focuses on what forms the support or foundation for development.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "lay development" that are grammatically correct?

Instead of "lay development", you can use phrases such as "laying the groundwork for development", "establishing a development plan", or "initiating development strategies".

Is "lay development" considered proper English?

No, "lay development" is not considered proper English. The verb "lay" is often misused; in this context, "laying" or a different verb altogether is more appropriate.

How can I use "lay" correctly in a sentence related to development?

To use "lay" correctly, ensure it has a direct object. For example, "The team will lay the foundation for future development" is grammatically sound. However, "lay development" itself is not correct.

What is the difference between "lay development" and "laying the foundation for development"?

"Lay development" is grammatically incorrect. "Laying the foundation for development" is the correct phrasing, indicating the act of establishing a base for future growth or progress.