The words cue and queue sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. They are what we call homophones. To avoid being confused, we will help you determine the differences between these two terms so you can utilize them properly in your writing.
The word cue is most commonly used as a noun referring to “a signal, such as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business, to a performer to begin a specific speech or action” or “feature indicating the nature of something perceived.”
Meghan Markle Takes A Style Cue From Princess Diana And Kate Middleton
Huffpost CanadaWindrush should be the cue for a rethink on immigration policy
The TimesWhoopi Goldberg Scolds Aziz Ansari Accuser: ‘Non-Verbal Cues’ Are Not Enough
Daily Beast
As a noun, it may also pertain to “a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball as in billiards and pool.”
Why was Luca Brecel using TWO cues at the Masters against Mark Allen? Reason revealed
Express.co.ukBorrowed cue helps Matheson win national pool title
The Southland TimesMan blinded student with pool cue, court hears
Oxford Mail
It may also function as a verb meaning “to give a cue to” or “to insert into a continuous performance.”
Astronauts’ circulation woes can cue better health for all
Medical XpressAfter being cued to visualize the memories connected with their items, participants used the art supplies to depict those memories on the first panel of their board.
Chicago TribuneDickey’s Barbecue Pit Cues the Madness this Season
Restaurant News
On the other hand, the term queue most commonly functions as a noun referring to “a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed” or “a list of data items, commands, etc., stored so as to be retrievable in a definite order, usually the order of insertion.”
Two Pommie Sheilas: Perth’s love of a queue leaves beauty spots begging
The West AustralianGuru: At Last! A Tool To Search an Output Queue!
IT JungleUnisa: We’ll Manage The Queues Properly and Avoid a Stampede
Eyewitness News
It may also be used as a verb meaning “take one’s place in a queue” or “to arrange or form in a queue.”
Crowds at Rodney Parade as County fans queue for FA Cup tickets
South Wales ArgusLiverpool fans still queuing at half-time for Steven Gerrard’s Anfield debut as manager
Liverpool EchoFirst iPhone X buyer in Indonesia queued from 6 a.m.
Jakarta Post
After discussing the differences between the cue and queue, you should now be able to distinguish between the two and use them accurately in your sentences. Keep in mind that cue either pertains to a signal or a rod for billiadrs and pool while queue relates to a line or forming one.
Can you write your own sentences using cue and queue?
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