this will lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this will lay" is not correct in standard English; it should be "this will lie" if referring to something resting in a position.
You can use it when discussing the future state of something that will be in a horizontal position or resting. Example: "After the storm passes, this will lie flat on the ground."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

This will lay out what the government hopes to achieve at the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December.

The Guardian

"The allegations are utterly refuted and I hope this will lay to rest any suspicion that the Board has acted improperly".

The Guardian - Sport

"From our point of view, this will lay the ground for the next 9/11," Yossi Mendellevich, an engineer whose 13-year-old son, Yuval, died in a bus bombing in Haifa in 2003, said by telephone.

The New York Times

"This will lay the foundation of what T Brand will do in the social space going forward," Tomich said.

TechCrunch

This will lay the US open to charges of hypocrisy, making it far harder for the West to criticise brutal and dictatorial regimes.

BBC

This will lay the groundwork for screening untested chemicals and provide vital guidance for future testing.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The answer to this will lie in the clinical outcome data and also how the PARP inhibitor is being used - for its single agent activity or as a true chemo-potentiating agent.

Breast Cancer Research

This alliance will lay the foundation for a base of influence across the region".

The New York Times

Hopefully, this blog will lay out the case for a third way forward.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But this bill will lay the groundwork for one of the largest land conservation initiatives in history.

The New York Times

And when the world sees the files from the various branches of Syria's vast security apparatus, this too will lay bare the depravity of the Syrian government's crackdown on its own people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical accuracy, use "this will lie" when referring to something assuming a resting position. Alternatively, depending on the context, consider using phrases like "this will establish", "this will create", or "this will build".

Common error

The verbs "lay" and "lie" are often confused. "Lay" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object (e.g., "I will lay the book on the table"). "Lie" is an intransitive verb that does not take a direct object (e.g., "I will lie down"). The correct phrase is "this will lie" when referring to something resting in a position.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this will lay" is grammatically incorrect. It appears with the intention to describe a future action where something will be placed or established, but the verb form is misused. Ludwig flags this error, suggesting the correct form should be "this will lie" when referring to something assuming a resting position.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this will lay" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig, as an AI, identifies this error, suggesting that "this will lie" is the correct form when describing something assuming a resting position. While the phrase does appear in various contexts, including scientific and news sources, its incorrect usage undermines its effectiveness. When writing, it's best to use "this will lie" or to consider alternative verbs such as "establish", "create", or "build" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Pay close attention to the difference between the transitive verb "lay" and the intransitive verb "lie" to avoid this common mistake.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this will place

Replaces "lay" with a more general term for putting something in a specific position.

this will establish

Focuses on the act of setting up or founding something.

this will create

Highlights the generation or production of something new.

this will build

Emphasizes the gradual development or construction of something.

this will set the stage for

Emphasizes preparation for future events.

this will pave the way for

Highlights the act of making something easier or possible.

this will prepare

Focuses on making something or someone ready.

this will initiate

Emphasizes the commencement or beginning of something.

this will introduce

Focuses on bringing something new into existence or awareness.

this will construct

Highlights the act of building something, often in a more formal context.

FAQs

What is the correct phrase, "this will lay" or "this will lie"?

The correct phrase is "this will lie" when referring to something assuming a resting position. "Lay" requires a direct object (e.g., I will lay the book on the table), while "lie" does not (e.g., I will lie down).

How can I use "this will lie" correctly in a sentence?

Use "this will lie" when describing something that will be in a resting or horizontal position. For example, "After the storm, the debris "this will lie" scattered across the field."

What are some alternatives to using "this will lay", considering it's grammatically incorrect?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "this will establish", "this will create", or "this will build".

When is it appropriate to use the verb "lay"?

The verb "lay" is used when you are placing something down. For example, "I "will lay" the foundation for the house tomorrow."