Question about 'in a queue' and 'in a line'

Status
Not open for further replies.

learning54

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
Hi Teachers,
Are the following sentences correct according to what's in parentheses?
a) Most of the workers are standing in a queue. (British English)
b) Most of the workers are standing in a line. (American English)

Thanks in advance
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Both are fine in BrE, as is 'standing in line'. Only (a) clearly means that they are waiting their turn for something.
 
Last edited:

learning54

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
Both are fine in BrE, as is 'standing in line'. Only (a) clearly mains that they are waiting their turn for something.

Hi 5jj,
Thank you for your reply.
(a) Yes. In fact they are waiting for their lunch.
So, standing 'in line' and standing 'in a line' mean the same. I didn't know that.
But we should say, standing in a queue'. That's the only possibility. Right?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
But we should say, standing in a queue'. That's the only possibility. Right?
It is to me. (We also say both 'queue' and 'line' in AusE).
We do say "standing in line", but we tend not to say "standing in queue" - though I notice that there are some legitimate looking examples on the web, many from India. And I couldn't swear that no one in Australia says it.
We also say, "queueing", "queueing up", "lining up", but not "lining".
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
If they are waiting for lunch, then 'standing in a queue' is more likely in BrE - or simply 'queuing.' You are right in saying that 'queue' needs an article'.
 

Amigos4

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2007
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi 5jj,
Thank you for your reply.
(a) Yes. In fact they are waiting for their lunch.
So, standing 'in line' and standing 'in a line' mean the same. I didn't know that.
But we should say, standing in a queue'. That's the only possibility. Right?
Hi, learning54!

Let me give you the AmE version! Common usage in the US is 'standing in line'. 'Standing in a line' essentially means the same thing.

Examples:
* Bob and Jane were standing in line for 3 hours before the gates to the stadium were opened.
* Bob and Jane were standing in a line that was a mile long!

The BrE word 'queue' is also finding its way into American vocabulary. In fact, I frequently use the word when I am talking about a large gathering of people who are waiting for something to happen.
 

learning54

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
Hi, learning54!

Let me give you the AmE version! Common usage in the US is 'standing in line'. 'Standing in a line' essentially means the same thing.

Examples:
* Bob and Jane were standing in line for 3 hours before the gates to the stadium were opened.
* Bob and Jane were standing in a line that was a mile long!

The BrE word 'queue' is also finding its way into American vocabulary. In fact, I frequently use the word when I am talking about a large gathering of people who are waiting for something to happen.
Hi amigos4,
Thank you for your reply.

Best.
L54
 

Amigos4

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2007
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Both are fine in BrE, as is 'standing in line'. Only (a) clearly mains that they are waiting their turn for something.
Hi, 5jj!

If 'only (a) clearly mains (means) that they are waiting their turn for something', then what does (b) indicate?
(b) Most of the workers are standing in a line. (American English)

Don't both examples imply that people are waiting their turn for something?

Cheers,
A4
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
(b) Most of the workers are standing in a line. (American English)

Don't both examples imply that people are waiting their turn for something?
Not necessarily, though I accept that this may often be so. They could be waiting in (a) line (rather than in a bunch) in order to leave space for something to pass. When the time comes, they will stop standing in a line, possibly all at the same time.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
"Standing in a line" simply means that that is the shape they are making. It could be a police line-up, maybe they're standing aside against a wall so that a large vehicle can squeeze past, perhaps they are part of a living sculpture.

"Standing in line" (AmE) = "queuing" (BrE) = "waiting for their turn"

Standing in a line (AmE) = Standing in a line (BrE)
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
"Standing in a line" simply means that that is the shape they are making. It could be a police line-up, maybe they're standing aside against a wall so that a large vehicle can squeeze past, perhaps they are part of a living sculpture.

"Standing in line" (AmE) = "queuing" (BrE) = "waiting for their turn"

Standing in a line (AmE) = Standing in a line (BrE)

Exactly. In gym class, we often tell Canadian kids to "stand in a line" but this does not carry the implication that anything will happen in order, i.e. either left to right or right to left.

For that, we say stand "in line" or "line up."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top