I do not wish to set off a philosophical firestorm with this message, so please understand that I recognize that there are times when we do NOT fix the grammar in direct quotes. However, we SHOULD fix grammar in direct quotes unless we are deliberately trying to make the people we are quoting look ignorant, stupid or just "colorful." (Don't get me started on THAT one.) Last week, we quoted two folks who used "lay" when they meant "lie." For example, in the farmer freeze story, we quoted a fellow: "If I see them lay down, I'll jump in the truck and crank up that wind machine." And in the same paper, we quoted a professor as saying,"Sometimes the plants lay down." Please DO fix the grammar in similar instances. The incorrect grammar does nothing to help the story, and it perpetuates ignorance. (I ask copy editors to be particularly vigilant about this.) If you have trouble with "lay/lie," and I know plenty of smart people who do, please just stop and look at the words when you use them to make sure that you have the right one. -- Pam Nelson Day news editor The News & Observer 215 S. McDowell St. Raleigh, NC 27602 (919) 829-4619 toll free: (800) 365-6115 fax: (919) 829-4529