lays

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'lays' is correct and usable in written English.
It is both a verb and a noun. As a verb, 'lays' means to put down, especially gently or carefully. As a noun, 'lays' refers to stories, songs, or poems that are meant to be recited or sung. For example: The bard laid his lute and began to recite one of his favorite lays.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her little book on British Islam, Medina in Birmingham, Najaf in Brent, lays out for the first time in terms accessible to a lay audience something of the inner structures and dynamics of Islam in Britain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Stretching towards Peru and Bolivia, it lays claim to being the driest desert in the world, with only 0.01mm of rain falling in an average year.

The Guardian - Travel

Angele takes a mattress and lays it on the floor in the living room.

The Guardian

Rodriguez was also cited for obstructing the investigation and for violating the Basic Agreement which is the master document that lays out protocol between the Players and Major League Baseball.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: David Cameron lays out plans for 'blue-collar Conservatism' as cabinet meets Evidently stung by charges of running a posh "chumocracy", Cameron has promoted comprehensive school educated MPs – Javid, Priti Patel, Greg Clark and David Mundell.

The Guardian

Patrick Collinson has a 10-point guide to making the most of the reforms – no matter how far from retirement you are – and lays to rest some myths.

The Guardian - Money

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 5.55am BST05:55 Paul Ryan also briefly skips over the context of the question and instead lays into the Obama administration with a prepared speech.

The Guardian

Jack Conte, one-half of the indie duo Pomplamoose, is confronting this paradox the hard way in the wake of his recent post on Medium in which he lays bare the nuts, bolts, nets and grosses of his group's 24-show American tour.

The Guardian - Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.20pm BST23 20 Our polling impresario Harry Enten lays out three possible pathways for Mitt Romney to win the electoral college through the battleground states: So, how does Romney get over the top?

The Guardian

Culture-clash opportunities abound, and Pride lays on plenty of broad, saucy humour: old Welsh ladies visiting Soho leather bars and laughing at dildos; miners frowning into their pints down the village hall while Dominic West camps it up on the dancefloor.

The Guardian - Film

But, due to confidentiality clauses inside the Joint Drug Agreement, the document that lays out the protocols for suspensions and appeal hearings for those accused of violating MLB's drug policies, the specifics behind the charges against A-Rod were unknown.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lays" as the third-person singular form of "lay", ensure it's followed by a direct object. For example, "He lays the book on the table."

Common error

Avoid using "lays" when you mean "lies" (to recline). "Lays" requires a direct object, while "lies" does not. Example of correct usage: "He lays the foundation." Example of incorrect usage: "He lays down for a nap.", correct usage: "He lies down for a nap."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lays" is as a transitive verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense of "lay". It requires a direct object, indicating the thing being placed or put down. Ludwig AI confirms the common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lays" is the third-person singular present tense of the verb "lay", meaning to put something down. It requires a direct object. According to Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in news, business, and scientific contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with "lies", which means to recline. Remember that "lays" is also the plural form of "lay", referring to ballads, though this usage is less frequent. By ensuring correct usage and avoiding common errors, you can effectively incorporate "lays" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

places

A general term for putting something in a specific location.

puts down

Changes the verb to a more common synonym for placing something.

positions

Suggests a careful or strategic placement.

sets forth

Emphasizes the act of presenting or declaring something formally.

situates

Implies a focus on the context or environment in which something is placed.

establishes

Focuses on the act of creating or setting up something, often a rule or principle.

declares

Highlights the act of making something known publicly or officially.

maps out

Emphasizes the creation of a detailed plan or representation.

presents

Suggests a more formal introduction or offering of something.

articulates

Highlights the clear and detailed expression of something.

FAQs

How is "lays" used correctly in a sentence?

"Lays" is the third-person singular form of the verb "lay", which means to put something down. Example: "She "lays" the blame on him."

What's the difference between "lay" and "lays"?

"Lay" is the base form of the verb (e.g., "I lay the book down"), while "lays" is the third-person singular present tense form (e.g., "He "lays" the book down"). Also, "lay" is the past tense of "lie" (to recline).

What is the difference between "lays" and "lies"?

"Lays" means to place something down, while "lies" means to recline or be in a horizontal position. You "lay" something down, and you "lie" down.

Can "lays" be used as a noun?

Yes, "lays" is the plural form of "lay", referring to ballads or short narrative poems, although this usage is less common. You can use alternatives like "ballads" to avoid ambiguity.