lay more than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay more than" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a comparison or quantity, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I would prefer to lay more than just a few bricks for the wall."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

That many chickens would lay more than 500m table eggs a month.

The Guardian

On a good day, it will lay more than 2,500 ties.

The New York Times

Groups consisting of all "gentlemen" lay more than twice the number of eggs as those consisting of all "rapists".

The Guardian - Books

Males and females mate, resulting in the production of copious numbers of eggs a single adult female can lay more than 200,000 eggs in one day.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Diamonds that once lay more than 435 miles beneath the earth's surface have provided researchers with an unexpected window into the planet's history.

The New York Times - Science

The pigeons and doves are outstanding examples of this behaviour; for some as yet unknown reason, they never lay more than one or two eggs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

It lies more than two miles down.

The New York Times - Science

Fincher thinks people, in general, lie more than they did.

The Guardian - Film

Chekhov often said that he hated lies more than anything.

The Guardian - Books

At least half the land area lies more than 500 feet (150 metres) above sea level.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And in no area do people lie more than on the question of infidelity.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "lay more than" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "lie beyond", "exceeds", or "is located farther than" depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is using "lay" instead of "lie". "Lay" requires a direct object (e.g., "lay the book down"), while "lie" does not (e.g., "the book lies on the table"). Remember to use the correct form based on whether you are describing an action or a state of being.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay more than" functions as a comparative expression, aiming to indicate exceeding a certain quantity or position. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, the usage of "lay" in this context is often grammatically incorrect, frequently due to confusion with the verb "lie".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lay more than" appears frequently across diverse sources like news media, scientific articles, and encyclopedias, it often suffers from grammatical inaccuracies, mainly arising from confusion with the verb "lie". As Ludwig AI points out, it's often incorrect. It is mainly used to express comparison or exceeding of a certain quantity. To ensure grammatical correctness and clarity, it is best to opt for alternative phrases like "exceed more than", "lie beyond", or "is located further than", adapting the choice based on the specific context. In formal writing, avoiding "lay more than" will help maintain credibility and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass more than

Offers a direct substitution, using "surpass" to indicate exceeding a specific amount or value.

exceed more than

Replaces "lay" with "exceed", maintaining the comparison of exceeding a quantity.

be situated further than

Replaces "lay" with "be situated", emphasizing physical location at a distance.

be positioned farther than

Specifies a position that is at a greater distance.

lie beyond

Uses "lie beyond" to denote a location or limit that is surpassed.

rest further than

Uses "rest" to describe a position of something at a greater distance.

extend past

Focuses on the action of extending or surpassing a boundary or limit.

be located more remotely than

Highlights the remote location, replacing the verb "lay" with "be located".

spread further than

Emphasizes the extent of spreading or covering more than a specific area.

expand past

Highlights the expansion or growth beyond a specified limit or boundary.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "lie" versus "lay" in a sentence?

"Lie" is intransitive (does not take a direct object), referring to a state of being or position (e.g., "The city "lies to the north""). "Lay" is transitive (takes a direct object), meaning to put something down (e.g., "I will lay the book on the table").

What are some alternatives to the phrase "lay more than"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "exceed more than", "is located further than", or "lie beyond".

Is it grammatically correct to say "lay more than"?

No, the phrase "lay more than" is not grammatically correct in most contexts. It often results from confusion between the verbs "lie" and "lay". Use "lie" when referring to something's position or state.

How can I avoid confusing "lie" and "lay"?

Remember that "lay" is an action you perform on something else, whereas "lie" is something you yourself or something else does. For example: you lay something down, but you lie down. Think: hens lay eggs.