to be queuing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be queuing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of standing in line or waiting for something, often in a British context. Example: "We had to be queuing for over an hour to get into the concert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Politicians seem to be queuing up these days to proclaim their trendy music credentials to image-conscious voters.

Independent

So attractive is the business that foreigners seem to be queuing up to pay rich prices for fund managers.

The Economist

I'm not going to be queuing up for an hour beforehand to get that one-off piece!

The Guardian - Music

Rather than wasting their talents on visual valium, producers and writers ought to be queuing up to get them to do something that stretches them.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Does David Cameron think volunteers are going to be able to look after children like this? Are they going to be queuing up at my door?

The Guardian

Why would he have sat on that during a hotly contested election, one that looked until the last minute to be queuing up Obama's chosen successor?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Contention causes work to be queued or blocked from execution and system performance may suffer as a result.

International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

A local port has some additional fields to allow messages to be queued on it, and threads to block waiting for messages.

Cornell University

Where ( frac{lambda_{mathrm{q}}}{lambda 2} ) represents the probability of a packet to be queued.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

So it causes the packet to be queued at the intermediate node for a while.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Mr. STONE: We don't like to be queued up.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be queuing", consider your audience. If writing for an international audience, "to be standing in line" might be more easily understood.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "to be queuing" extensively in contexts outside of British English may sound unnatural to some readers. Use alternatives like "to be waiting in line" to ensure clarity and wider acceptance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be queuing" primarily functions as part of a verb phrase indicating an ongoing action. It describes the state of waiting in a line or queue. Ludwig examples showcase it being used in various contexts, from people waiting for tickets to traffic congestion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be queuing" is a grammatically sound way to describe the act of waiting in line, typically used within British English contexts. Ludwig indicates that while it's valid, considering your audience is crucial, as international readers might better understand alternatives like "to be standing in line". The term is most common in news and media, maintaining a generally neutral tone. While correct, its relative infrequency suggests that more universal alternatives might enhance clarity and acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be standing in line

Replaces the British term "queuing" with the more universally understood "standing in line".

to be waiting in line

Similar to "standing in line", but emphasizes the act of waiting.

to be lining up

A more active phrasing suggesting the process of forming a line.

to be forming a queue

Emphasizes the creation of a queue or line.

to be in a queue

Focuses on being a part of an existing line.

to await one's turn

Highlights the anticipation of one's turn in a sequence.

to be in the waiting line

Specifies that the line is for waiting.

to be positioned in a line

Emphasizes the physical placement in a line.

to be ordered in a line

Implies a more structured or formal arrangement in a line.

to be next in line

Focuses on the imminent arrival of one's turn in a sequence

FAQs

What does "to be queuing" mean?

The phrase "to be queuing" means "to be standing in line", typically in a British English context. It refers to the act of waiting in a sequence for something.

How can I use "to be queuing" in a sentence?

You can use "to be queuing" to describe the act of people waiting in a line. For example, "People are expected "to be queuing" outside the store before it opens."

What is a more common alternative to "to be queuing"?

A more universally understood alternative to "to be queuing" is "to be waiting in line". This phrase is common in both American and British English.

Is "to be queuing" formal or informal?

"To be queuing" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more frequently found in general news and media. Using "to be standing in line" might be better suited in some formal cases because it is more known.