already in a queue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already in a queue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone or something has already joined a line of people or things that are waiting for something. For example: "The customers had already been in a queue for two hours when the store finally opened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They reckon the Rolling Stones tried to eat there a few years ago, but there was already a queue to get in so they were turned away.

The Guardian - Travel

Consider these cover stories already in the queue at Parade, and coming to your Sunday brunch soon: Lighting a Fire: Fred Thompson Is Transforming the GOP Race for President.

Huffington Post

"If you are already in the queue, when you cross the end of your license and renewal is under consideration, you can continue operating," said Eliot Brenner, a spokesman.

The New York Times

They would be allowed to apply for a green card (permanent residence), but family heads would have to go home to lodge the application though they would then be allowed to return to America while they waited (and would pay another $4,000).For those already in the queue, the bill calls for shorter waiting times.

The Economist

Packets arriving after K packets are already in the queue are dropped.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As for everyone else who isn't already in the queue, you're probably looking at closer to February/March.

TechCrunch

Then, the scheduler tries to find the task with the shortest execution time among the tasks that are already in the queue and fits it on the recently released server.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The first part is the expected time that it has to wait until the packets already in the queue are served, i.e., (Eleft ({Q^{B}_{b}}right)Eleft ({T^{B}_{b}}right)), where (Eleft ({T^{B}_{b}}right)) is the expected delay imposed due the service of each packet when it is in the head of queue.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The queue was long, so we would try to skip it sometimes if we knew someone already in the queue.

Vice

Care for mothers and their babies It is early Monday morning, but already a queue has formed outside the puskesmas or health clinic in Waiya, a little village high in Depapre's jungle-covered hills.

Unicef

By 9am there was already a queue of more than 100.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already in a queue" when you want to emphasize that someone or something has previously joined and is currently part of a waiting line or ordered sequence.

Common error

Avoid using prepositions like "on" or "at" in place of "in" when referring to being part of a queue. For example, avoid saying "already on a queue" or "already at a queue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already in a queue" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a state of being part of an ordered waiting line. It modifies a noun or pronoun, specifying its location or status within the queue. Ludwig shows various examples of its use in everyday contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Unknown

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already in a queue" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to indicate that someone or something has joined a waiting line. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides various examples of its use. It is categorized as a prepositional phrase with a neutral register, commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. Alternatives include "currently waiting in line" and "already lined up". Remember to use the correct preposition "in" and avoid confusing it with others like "on" or "at". Use "already in a queue" when specifying the prior action of joining and current inclusion in an ordered sequence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

already part of the waiting line

Replaces "queue" with "waiting line" and uses "part of" instead of "in", emphasizing inclusion in a line.

part of the existing queue

Emphasizes that the queue is already there and someone is joining it.

currently waiting in line

Focuses on the present action of waiting and uses "in line" instead of "in a queue".

waiting in the current line

Specifies that it is the current or existing line.

present in the queue

More formal, using "present" to indicate being at a specific location in the queue.

presently in the queue

Uses "presently" as a synonym of "currently" to emphasize the present moment.

already lined up

Implies physical alignment and readiness, replacing "in a queue" with the idiomatic "lined up".

now standing in line

Highlights the physical action of standing and waiting.

included in the waiting list

Shifts the context to a "waiting list", suggesting a more formal or organized queue.

among those queuing

Highlights being one of the people who are queuing.

FAQs

How can I use "already in a queue" in a sentence?

You can use "already in a queue" to describe someone or something that has previously joined a waiting line. For example, "Since arriving late, I found that many customers were "already in a queue"."

What can I say instead of "already in a queue"?

You can use alternatives like "currently waiting in line", "already lined up", or "included in the waiting list" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "already on a queue"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "in". Therefore, the correct phrase is "already in a queue", not "already on a queue".

What's the difference between "already in a queue" and "waiting in a queue"?

"Already in a queue" emphasizes that the person or item has previously joined the queue, while "waiting in a queue" simply describes the current state of waiting. The phrase "already" adds an element of completion regarding the action of joining the queue.