join a queue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "join a queue" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when someone is waiting in line for something, such as a store checkout or a customer service counter. For example, you can say "I had to join a queue to buy a ticket for the show".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Customers can either join a queue or balk and return at a later time.

Computers & Operations Research

"You could log into a Topshop app, and then join a queue to work," Dewhurst says.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many travellers instead decided to join a queue for hours and be booked on the next available train.

Independent

No one was allowed to go out in the evening, and my grandfather had to join a queue of 50 to get milk.

The Guardian

Online the scenes were less hectic but shoppers still faced frustrations: Currys had a waiting list for customers, who had to join a queue (see above).

The Guardian - Business

In the second world war, when queueing was a daily irritation and necessity, people would join a queue without knowing what was at the end of it, in the expectation that it must be for something worthwhile.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

9.20am: Amr Moussa has joined a queue to vote at a polling station in Cairo.

The Guardian

But long before that she joins a queue of people to draw water from a public tap.

The New York Times

Roehampton University of Surrey today joined a queue of at least seven higher education colleges seeking university status.

The Guardian

I walked into a fish-and-chip shop in Truro, about 15 years ago, and joined a queue.

The Guardian - Books

Getting your metal out of Vlissingen warehouses means joining a queue for nearly two years – 586 days, to be precise.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "join a queue", ensure the context clearly indicates a physical or virtual line. For abstract concepts, consider alternative phrases like "become part of" or "enlist in".

Common error

Avoid confusing "queue" with similar-sounding words like "cue". "Queue" refers to a line of people, while "cue" is a signal or prompt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "join a queue" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of entering a waiting line. According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. This phrase is commonly used to describe a physical action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "join a queue" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to describe the action of entering a waiting line. According to Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for both written and spoken English. While it is most frequently found in News & Media, it also appears in Scientific contexts. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "become part of a queue" may be preferable. When using the phrase, ensure the context clarifies whether it's a physical or virtual line. Also, it's important not to confuse it with the word "cue". Overall, "join a queue" is a versatile and widely understood phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enter a queue

Replaces "join" with "enter", focusing on the act of physically entering the line.

get in line

An informal alternative, common in spoken English.

line up

Emphasizes the physical action of forming a line.

stand in line

Highlights the act of standing while waiting.

wait in line

Focuses on the waiting aspect of being in a queue.

join the waiting list

Used when referring to a list where people are recorded to wait for something.

become part of a queue

A more formal way of expressing the action of joining.

enqueue

A technical term, often used in computing contexts.

be added to a queue

Focuses on the passive reception of being added to the line.

fall into queue

Suggests a less deliberate action of joining a line.

FAQs

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

You can use "join a queue" to describe the action of entering a line of people waiting for something. For example, "I had to join a queue at the post office to mail the package."

What is a more formal alternative to "join a queue"?

A more formal alternative is to say "become part of a queue" or "be added to a queue", which may be suitable in professional or academic contexts.

What's the difference between "join a queue" and "get in line"?

"Join a queue" is a neutral and generally applicable phrase. "Get in line" is more informal and often used in spoken English or less formal writing.

When should I use "enqueue" instead of "join a queue"?

Use "enqueue" primarily in technical or computing contexts, where it refers to adding an item to a data structure that operates as a queue. In general conversation, "join a queue" is more appropriate.