on her lap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'on her lap' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is resting or being held on a woman's lap. Example: She held the letter on her lap and quietly read its contents.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She reads from one of the translations on her lap.

The New York Times

Across from him are 2 women, one who has her son on her lap.

The New Yorker

She adjusted the material on her lap.

The New Yorker

She placed the phone on her lap.

The New York Times - Arts

He laid his head on her lap.

The New Yorker

Her notebook was open on her lap.

The New Yorker

Baban's son died on her lap.

The New Yorker

She put her corn on her lap.

The New Yorker

She patted the dog on her lap.

The New Yorker

Her hands were folded on her lap.

The New York Times

She has a child on her lap.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone holding an object or a child, consider the level of activity. Use "resting" for stationary objects, and "holding" or "cradling" for items requiring active support.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "on her lap" by varying your descriptions. Instead of always stating something is "on her lap", describe the action or state more dynamically. For example, instead of "The book was on her lap", try "She held the book open in her lap" or "The book rested in her lap."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on her lap" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the location or position of something. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and usable. Examples from Ludwig show the phrase modifying verbs like 'placed', 'held', or 'sat' to describe where an object or person is situated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on her lap" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is physically located on a woman's lap. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, its function is to provide spatial context, describing the location of objects, children, or animals. While alternatives such as "in her lap" or "resting on her lap" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. To enhance writing, consider varying descriptive language to avoid repetition and focus on active descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in her lap

Simple change of preposition; maintains same meaning.

resting on her lap

Adds the explicit action of resting, implying a state of repose.

held in her lap

Emphasizes the action of holding, suggesting more active support.

across her lap

Indicates the item spans the width of the lap.

upon her lap

More formal or literary alternative to "on her lap".

cradled in her lap

Implies gentle holding, often used for babies or delicate items.

positioned on her lap

Focuses on the act of placing something in the lap.

placed on her lap

Focuses on the action of placing something on the lap.

lying on her lap

Suggests a relaxed or informal placement.

supported by her lap

Highlights the lap's function as a support.

FAQs

How is "on her lap" used in a sentence?

The phrase "on her lap" indicates that something is physically located on the lap of a female person. For example, "She had a notebook "on her lap" while she was writing."

What are some alternatives to saying "on her lap"?

You can use alternatives like "in her lap", "resting on her lap", or "held in her lap" depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in her lap" instead of "on her lap"?

Both "on her lap" and "in her lap" are generally correct and interchangeable. However, "on her lap" is slightly more common in contemporary usage.

How do I avoid repeating "on her lap" in my writing?

To avoid repetition, try rephrasing the sentence to focus on the action or the item itself. For instance, instead of "The cat was on her lap", you could say "She was petting the cat that rested comfortably in her lap".