by Sandie Armstrong
(Pottstown, PA, USA)
In editing my husband's novel, there are many times when the hero talks about bedding down and going to sleep. The book is a story being told in the first person about a journey the narrator took in the past. My mom always told me that the verb "to lay" should be used for hens or putting a book on a table. Our hero often says things like, "I laid down on the cold, rough ground without a blanket and tried to sleep." I think that this usage is correct, but I don't want anyone to think he woke up with an egg. In another usage of this pesky word, he says, "By morning the men had frozen to death where they lay." Grisly, but correct? Or should it perhaps be "...where they laid." or "...where they had lain."?
Thank you for your willingness to help!
Comments for Did the men die where they lay or where they laid?
|
||
|
||
|
||
This is Jack Popjes and one of his published books. He and I worked on multiple projects. He's met many goals.
Meet your writing goals in 2023.
Sign up below for
Editor's Notes
Inspiration and Writing Tips
and receive tips
to maximize
your use of MS Word.
Click for more information
and archived copies...
Or sign up using the form below
to start your subscription right away.