lay the case

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay the case" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "make the case," which is commonly used to argue or present a point. Example: "In her presentation, she aimed to lay the case for renewable energy as a viable solution to climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In a Comment, Ugur Sahin and colleagues lay the case for eliciting immune responses to cancer neoantigens — antigens that arise from tumour-specific mutations and that are not found in healthy tissues — as a personalized and highly effective antitumour therapy.

Nature

Collectively, these results lay the case for closer investigation of PUFAs and dietary fish oils as lipid raft modifiers and as beneficial agents in autoimmunity and inflammation.

FEBS Letters

Lay the case down in a box.

WikiHow

Lay the case on a table or work surface.

WikiHow

Lay the case on your work surface with the I/O panel laying closest to the surface.

WikiHow

Lay the case on your table or workbench, with the connectors on the back closest to the work surface.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Therein lies the case for CSR.

The Economist

In that observation and its implications lies the case for market capitalism.

The Economist

Therein lies the case that the Romney campaign, for all its recent troubles, is actually doing just fine.

The New York Times

Among the pending problems of control synthesis under set-membership uncertainty lies the case when the bounds on the disturbances and the controls are generated by different types of inequalities.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Therein lies the case for active labor market policies, job training, and various innovations in working hours flexibility.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make the case" or "lay out the case" instead of "lay the case" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "lay the case" as it is often a misinterpretation of the correct idiom "make the case". Double-check your phrasing to ensure you are using the established idiom.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay the case" functions as a verbal phrase intended to convey the act of presenting or arguing a point. However, as Ludwig AI notes, it's not the standard or grammatically correct form; "make the case" is preferred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lay the case" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered a grammatically incorrect or less preferred alternative to "make the case" or "lay out the case". As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is a misinterpretation of an established idiom. The frequency is uncommon. It is important to be mindful of the context and audience when choosing between these options, opting for "make the case" or "lay out the case" in formal or professional settings to maintain clarity and credibility. The authoritative sources suggest that the phrase is used in news and scientific contexts, but that doesn't justify the correctness of the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make the case

Replaces "lay" with "make", a more common and grammatically correct way to express presenting an argument.

present the argument

Uses "present" and "argument" for a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the structured presentation of a viewpoint.

argue the point

Emphasizes the act of arguing or defending a particular viewpoint.

advance the thesis

Suitable for academic or formal contexts, referring to proposing and defending a thesis or idea.

demonstrate the validity

Focuses on proving or showing the truth or soundness of something.

establish the grounds

Highlights setting the foundation or basis for an argument or decision.

offer substantiation

Replaces with a more formal word, "substantiation", highlighting the act of providing proof.

put forward the reasons

Focuses on providing reasons or justifications for a particular stance.

set forth the evidence

Emphasizes the presentation of evidence to support a claim.

spell out the details

Focuses on providing a detailed explanation or account of something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "lay the case"?

The correct phrasing is "make the case" or "lay out the case". "Lay the case" is often considered grammatically incorrect.

What does "make the case" mean?

"Make the case" means to present an argument or provide evidence to support a particular point of view. It is used to persuade someone of something.

Is "lay the case" ever appropriate to use?

While some sources use "lay the case", it's generally better to use the established idioms "make the case" or "lay out the case" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

What are some alternatives to "make the case"?

Alternatives include "present the argument", "argue the point", or "offer substantiation", depending on the context.