Lie vs. Lay

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam Posted by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, Managing Director, Editorial, Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.



Even seasoned writers confuse "lie" and "lay."

Here's the easy way to remember them:

"Lie" means to recline or rest on a surface. Example: I want to lie on that couch.

"Lay" means to put or place something somewhere. Example: Lay your jacket on the chair.