Category Archives: Words

The distinction comes to my mind every time I see “Fifteen Items of Less” at a grocery store. It should be “Fifteen Items of Fewer.” Albertsons is the only market I have seen that has it right. “His problems are … Continue reading →

A duck or a movie lays an egg (transitive). The duck or the producer may then lie down (intransitive). The past tense of lie is lay. Lie, lay, lain, lying Lay, laid, laid, laying

It means a mischievous or playful trick. Still used commonly in Scotland but not much elsewhere. I have seen it in writing only once (Larry Niven).