on top of queue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on top of queue" is not correct in standard English; it should be "at the top of the queue." You can use it when referring to being first in line or priority in a sequence, such as in customer service or task management.
Example: "If you submit your request now, you'll be at the top of the queue for processing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Three weeks ago he said he witnessed migrants climbing on top of queueing caravans and smashing in the skylights to get in.

The Guardian

Your CV now comes out from in the middle of the very large stack and is now on top of the queue.

WikiHow

Arrange them one on top of other.

WikiHow

It's virtually impossible to imagine how many rotting corpses and skeletons lie packed underground, resting on top of one another in a surreal vertical queue that will only become longer.

Vice

Every Saturday thereafter, queues lengthened onto the street, which was financially good for Mona, as she charged one shilling admission on top of the annual membership fee.

Wikipedia

"I work in a private practice, so my patients already pay for my services and just make appointments – they don't have to queue up, and bringing me a gift on top of paying would absolutely not help them.

Vice

This would be a particular irritant for the combative Walsh – on top of the usual gripes about the third runway and Heathrow queues.

The Guardian - Business

The scanned files, when received at the DCC, were routed to the respective form queues based on the barcodes placed on top of each page of each CRF.

Clinical Infectious Diseases

On top of the poverty trap, they face a high probability of soon being back in the queue to obtain benefit entitlement all over again.

The Guardian - Opinion

On top of that, the people in this place are generous with their booze and happy to let you ahead in the toilet queue if you're desperate.

Vice

On top of shoes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a position in a queue, use "at the top of the queue" or "at the front of the queue" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "on top of queue". The correct preposition to indicate position within a line or ordered sequence is "at".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on top of queue" is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to describe a position within an ordered sequence but fails to adhere to standard English prepositional usage. Ludwig AI confirms that "at the top of the queue" is the correct expression.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on top of queue" is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct expression is "at the top of the queue". This alternative, or similar phrases like "first in line", should be used instead to accurately convey the intended meaning of being first or having priority in a sequence. Therefore, it's crucial to avoid "on top of queue" in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the head of the queue

Focuses on being the very first in the queue.

first in line

A more informal way of saying "at the head of the queue".

priority in the queue

Emphasizes having a higher level of importance, gaining faster service.

ahead in the queue

Focuses on being positioned before others, but not necessarily first.

at the front of the line

Uses "line" instead of "queue", common in American English.

managing the queue effectively

Refers to controlling the queue, rather than a position within it.

overseeing the queue

Similar to 'managing', implies a supervisory role.

administering the queue

A more formal term for managing or overseeing.

controlling the queue flow

Focuses on the dynamic movement and handling of the queue.

optimizing the queue

Implies improving the efficiency and performance of the queue.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "on top of queue"?

The correct way to express being first or having priority in a queue is to say "at the "at the top of the queue"" or "at the front of the queue".

How can I use "at the top of the queue" in a sentence?

You might say, "If you submit your application early, you'll be "at the top of the queue" for consideration".

What's the difference between "at the top of the queue" and "first in line"?

"At the top of the queue" is slightly more formal, while "first in line" is more informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Are there other ways to indicate priority besides being "at the top of the queue"?

Yes, you can also say someone has "priority in the queue", meaning they are processed before others, regardless of their position in the physical line.