Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
SET / SIT & SAT
Despite the best efforts of our elementary school teachers, we still get these words confused. The big difference here is that set (present, past, and past participle form of the verb to set: set, set, set) usually takes an object while sit and sat (present and past/past participle forms of the verb to sit: sit, sat, sat) usually do not. In other words, it is proper to say that you set something down, but it is not proper to say you sat it down.
The big confusion here comes when a person is the object. In this case, to sit can serve as a transitive verb: I sat my son on the bed and hugged him. So, while the verb set usually takes an object, sit and sat can but seldom do.
INCORRECT: The poor dog set out in the rain all night.
CORRECT: The poor dog sat out in the rain all night.
INCORRECT: She sat the plate on the table.
CORRECT: She set the plate on the table.
INCORRECT: If you get tired, just set in the chair and rest.
CORRECT: If you get tired, just sit in the chair and rest.
INCORRECT: Set yourself down and stop pacing.
CORRECT: Sit yourself down and stop pacing.
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