as the cue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as the cue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a signal or prompt that indicates an action or response is expected. Example: "The director gave a nod as the cue for the actors to begin their performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Reinstating "moderate hunger" as the cue to eat and "moderate fullness" as the cue to stop discourages both severe restriction and overeating.

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

The Times takes Biden's "bulldozer" comment as the cue for its headline for a report on the memorial service.

The Guardian

"Is there any room in this building for fear?" he demands like a motivational speaker, as the cue for Happy.

The Guardian - Music

Word pairs were learned from a study list, with one member of the pair serving as the cue at test.

Neuropsychologia

She could take it as the cue for a general election, though she would fear that amounted to handing the Downing Street keys to Jeremy Corbyn.

The Guardian - Opinion

Benítez's replacement of the tiring Tioté with Shelvey possibly, coincidentally, served as the cue for Guidolin's players to finally wake up and create some chances.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

The laugh lines are impossible to miss, as are the cues for tears.

The New York Times - Arts

The only change in the situation is that Phil Brown has run fourteen & missed, and your old man now as the cue-stick.

The New Yorker

His mother, who became a Spanish teacher at U.C.L.A., happened to get acquainted with a man named Barney McNulty, who was the first person to use cue cards on TV and came to be known as "the cue-card king".

The New Yorker

Aren't those interpersonal cues — those knowing nods and furrowed brows — that go from the audience to the professor as crucial to the definition of a lecture as the cues that go from the lecturer to the audience?

Princeton University

As the cues become more ambiguous and less salient, delay-conditioning should become closer and closer to trace conditioning.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as the cue", ensure that the context clearly establishes what action or response is being triggered by the cue.

Common error

Avoid ambiguous sentence structures where it's unclear what follows "as the cue". Clearly state the expected action or outcome to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as the cue" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often introducing a clause that describes something serving as a signal or prompt. Ludwig examples show its usage in both scientific and general contexts, indicating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

36%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as the cue" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that signifies something acting as a signal or prompt for an action. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English. It's found primarily in scientific and news contexts and, while versatile, maintains a neutral to formal tone. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to establish the specific action or outcome that follows the cue. While alternatives exist, such as "acting as the signal" or "serving as the prompt", the best choice depends on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serving as the prompt

This alternative emphasizes the role of something initiating an action, similar to "as the cue", but with a slightly more formal tone.

acting as the signal

This phrase highlights the function of something conveying information or initiating a response, closely mirroring the meaning of "as the cue".

functioning as the trigger

This alternative emphasizes the activation or initiation aspect, suggesting a more immediate and direct cause-and-effect relationship than "as the cue".

being the indication

This phrase focuses on something showing or pointing to something else, similar to "as the cue", but can be more subtle or indirect.

operating as the stimulus

This alternative is more technical, suggesting something that excites an activity, aligning with the meaning of "as the cue" in experimental or behavioral contexts.

used as the impetus

This phrase conveys the idea of something providing the driving force or initial energy, similar to "as the cue" in motivating action.

taken as the green light

This alternative is more idiomatic, signifying permission or readiness to proceed, analogous to "as the cue" in signaling the start of an activity.

understood as the sign

This phrase highlights the interpretive aspect, where something is perceived as a predictor or indication, similar to "as the cue" in conveying meaning.

considered the starting point

This emphasizes the role of something to begin or initiate an action, but it's more generic and does not necessarily imply signaling.

regarded as the precedent

This suggests a previous event or action serving as a guide or justification, different from the signaling function of "as the cue".

FAQs

How can I effectively use "as the cue" in a sentence?

Use "as the cue" to clearly indicate what action, event, or signal prompts a specific response. For instance, "The bell rang, "as the cue" for students to change classes."

What are some alternatives to using "as the cue" in my writing?

You can use alternatives like "serving as the prompt", "acting as the signal", or "functioning as the trigger" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "as a cue" or "as the cue"?

While both phrases can be correct, "as the cue" typically refers to a specific, pre-defined signal, whereas "as a cue" is more general. For example, "The red light served as the cue to stop" implies a specific signal. Using "as a cue" would be appropriate when something serves as one possible indicator among many.

How does "as the cue" differ from "as a result"?

"As the cue" indicates something that prompts or signals an action, while "as a result" indicates a consequence or outcome. They have distinct meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.