

The last definition of cue involves billiard or cue sports such as pool, snooker, or shuffleboard. The word cue is thought to be a spelling of qu, an abbreviation of Latin quando for ‘ when’ or qualis ‘ in what manner.’ Cue sports “Can you cue the tape to the five-minute mark?”Ĭlue, indication, inkling, hint, lead, prompt, prompting, reminder, sign, signal, suggestion.“ Cue up The Smiths because we’re watching The Craft.”.“Students need cueing and support to find success.”Īlternatively, the verb cue also means ‘ to position an audio or video recording’ so that it’s ready to play at a specific moment.“The director cued the actors to stop and reset.”.“Right on cue, the cat returned home.”.“When the director is ready, you’ll see the cue.As a verb, cue appears as “ cues” (present tense), “ cueing” (present participle), or “ cued” (past participle). The noun cue references a verbal or physical hint, signal, or indication ( e.g., memory aid, stage direction, or body language). So, if you’re writing for American audiences, it’s best to stick with “ queuing.” What does cue mean? “ Queueing,” on the other hand, is chiefly British.
#Queue hair software
Grammarly software also takes a jab at the verb by stating, “ The word cuing not in our dictionary.” However, several online dictionaries list “ cuing” as a spelling variant, so it’s unclear whether it’s an official misspelling or not. cueing, you’d read “ cueing, not cuing,” and nothing more (Garner 235). If you asked Garner’s Modern English Usage about cuing vs. “ Queueing” is the standard spelling for British English.“ Cueing” is more common than “ cuing” for both American and British English.The differences between these terms are simple: In short, the past participle of cue is “ cuing” and “ cueing,” while the past participle of queue is “ queuing” and “ queueing.”

queue involves the verb’s past participles. queueingĪnother source of confusion for cue vs. The notion that “ queue” is more common for British English involves the fact that Americans are more likely to say “ line” than “ queue” at all.

The confusion around cue and queue appears to be a miscommunication concerning standard English, appropriate contexts, and, of course, the fact that they are homophones (both are pronounced ‘kew’ or like the letter Q).įor example, The American Heritage Dictionary lists the word cue as a “ nonstandard variant” of queue, leading one to think that “ cue” is a common misspelling. Braided hair (noun) or the act of braiding hair (verb).A line or sequence of things (noun) or the act of joining a line or sequence (verb).The stick we use for billiard or cue sports like pool, snooker, or shuffleboard (noun) or the act of striking a game ball with a cue stick (verb).Īdditionally, both American and British English use “ queue” as a noun and verb for:.A spot in a recording that is ready to play (noun) or playback to a recorded moment (verb).A signal, hint, or memory aid (noun) or to provide someone with such (verb).No matter where you live, the word cue is a noun and verb that describes: What is the difference between cue and queue?Ĭue and queue are simple words to use, but the differences between American and British English often blur the lines between standard and nonstandard English.
