will lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will lay" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the future action of placing something down or setting it in a particular position. Example: "Tomorrow, I will lay the foundation for the new building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"We will lay down our arms.

The New York Times

It will lay off 686 workers.

The New York Times

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will lay off sixty-five employees.

The New Yorker

But the protesters will lay down their arms for now.

The New York Times

Roshen said it will lay off 400 workers.

The Economist

But as political risks increase, they will lay off spending".

The New York Times

Then she will lay her eggs on him.

The New Yorker

A battery chicken will lay six eggs a week.

The Economist

Maybe it will lay the foundations for a book.

The New York Times

The wreath will lay to rest that institutional antisemitism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Putin will lay on a lavish state dinner.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "will lay", ensure the context clearly indicates the future action of placing something down. For example, "The construction crew will lay the foundation next week."

Common error

A common mistake is confusing "will lay" (to place something down) with "will lie" (to recline or be in a horizontal position). Remember that "lay" is a transitive verb requiring an object, while "lie" is intransitive. For example, "I will lay the book on the table" is correct, while "I will lie down" is also correct, but "I will lay down" is incorrect if you mean to recline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will lay" functions as a future tense verb phrase, indicating an action that will occur in the future. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from laying foundations to laying out plans. It is a construction used to express intention, prediction, or planned actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

29%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will lay" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that expresses a future action of placing or setting something down. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase sees frequent usage across various contexts including news, science and wiki articles. Pay close attention to the context and avoid confusion with the intransitive verb "lie". By doing so, you can confidently use "will lay" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is going to place

Uses a different future tense construction and emphasizes the act of placing.

shall set

Employs a more formal future tense auxiliary verb and a different synonym for "lay".

intends to position

Replaces "will lay" with a more deliberate and intentional action.

is set to put

Uses a passive construction to describe a scheduled or planned action of placing something.

is scheduled to deposit

Suggests a formal or predetermined arrangement to put something in a specific place.

will arrange

Focuses on the preparatory action of arranging before placing something.

plans to situate

Emphasizes the strategic placement of something in a particular location.

will establish

Implies the act of setting something up for a longer-term purpose.

is to locate

Uses a more direct and simple expression for indicating the placement of something.

shall situate

Uses a more formal future tense and a precise verb for placing something.

FAQs

How do I use "will lay" in a sentence?

"Will lay" indicates a future action of placing something down. For instance, "The city "will lay" the new water pipes next month."

What's a simple alternative to "will lay"?

Alternatives include "will place", "will set down", or "is going to put", depending on the context.

Which is correct: "will lay" or "will lie"?

"Will lay" is used when referring to placing something down, while "will lie" refers to reclining. Be mindful of the difference to avoid errors.

What is the difference between "will lay" and "will lie"?

"Will lay" is a transitive verb requiring a direct object (e.g., "I will lay the book on the table"), whereas "will lie" is intransitive and does not take a direct object (e.g., "I will lie down for a nap").