Subscribers' Questions

Do Clients Lie Down, or Lay Down?
Question: When I read descriptions about how to perform an exercise, I notice that sometimes the author writes, "Have your client *lie* down on a mat," and other times it's written, "Have your client *lay* down on a mat." Which is the correct way to write it, or are both examples correct? -Nikki L., Vancouver

Active Voice answer: The correct example in the situation above is lie down. A person lies down, or reclines, on a mat. But that person would lay down—or put down—an object. So, for example, you could write, "Lie down (person) on a mat, and lay (put) your dumbbells (object) beside you on the floor."

Wait, it gets trickier. What's the past tense of the verb "to lie"? It's "lay," which looks identical to the present tense form of the word you use to describe putting down an object.

So, when referring to something that happened in the past, it's correct to say, "The client lay on the mat for several minutes yesterday after doing a hard set of crunches." When writing exercise descriptions, though, stick with the present tense and the word lie to describe the client's action.

>From Newsletter 14, August 2002

How Do I Stay within My Assigned Word Count?
Question: Recently, I wrote a fitness article for a local city magazine. The editor told me she wanted 700 words. But by the time I was finished writing, it was closer to 1,200 words. Does it matter that it ran longer? If it does, how can I stay within my assigned word count when everything I put on paper is relevant to the article? - Scott, Toronto

Active Voice answer: Yes, it matters. If necessary, most editors can work with articles that are around 50 or 100 words over. But submitting a piece that's almost twice the assigned length is not the best way to secure another assignment.

If you feel an article really needs to be longer, discuss it with your editor before your deadline. Remember that editors assign a particular word count partly to fit the magazine's layout. Plus, when you submit writing that's significantly longer than what the editor requested, it means more work for him or her.

Edit your writing to make it tighter: Delete unnecessary words or phrases and rewrite sentences to make them shorter. Also, avoid redundant writing. Do you repeat the same statement or idea more than once? Instead of just rewording important points, reinforce them by using examples, anecdotes and quotations from experts.

Instead of: Body image concerns are a major problem among female exercisers. Almost 45 percent of women say they are uncomfortable with how their bodies look when they exercise. That means when women come to the gym, they may be feeling unhappy and self-conscious about their appearance. (This paragraph repeats the same general point three times.)

Try: Body image concerns are a major problem among female exercisers. A study published in XYZ Journal reported that 45 percent of women experience negative body-image thoughts, such as "I'm unhappy with the way my legs look," when they enter a gym. (This paragraph reinforces the point with a specific example—and in fewer words.)

>From Newsletter 12, June 2002