was queuing up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was queuing up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of standing in line or waiting for something, typically in a past context. Example: "Yesterday, I was queuing up for tickets to the concert when I ran into an old friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

So it was with some interest that I noticed, as I was queuing up, a standard-sized tube of Smarties.

Independent

ONE young filmgoer in Tokyo was clear about why he was queuing up for a third viewing of "Eien no Zero", or "The Eternal Zero".

The Economist

Further on up the road, the ubiquitous line of black Lincoln Town Cars was queuing up in front of Kinkead's, one of the city's most expensive restaurants.

The New York Times

The pony responsible was queuing up for some ice cream at the time in the car park near Haytor, and perhaps thought I'd jumped in ahead of him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I remember it was Thursday, 10 September, because I was queuing up John Adams' solemn, exquisite symphonic remembrance of the 9/11 victims, On the Transmigration of Souls.

The Guardian - Opinion

Re-read the comment by the founder of Child Eyes, Kathy McGuinness, who told the BBC she was queuing up to buy groceries and noticed her four-year-old son looking at a newspaper front page with an up-skirt shot of a woman.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

We've begun delivering mail that was queued up during our array failure outage.

University of California, Berkeley

At the Silicon Valley Bank Annual CEO Summit last week, the word bold was queued up and explored.

HuffPost

"They're queuing up!

Independent

The songs were queuing up.

The New Yorker

"People are queuing up to join.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events in the past, use "was queuing up" to vividly depict the action of waiting in a line, enhancing the narrative by showing the subject's participation in an orderly process.

Common error

Avoid using "is queuing up" when describing past events; use "was queuing up" to maintain correct tense and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was queuing up" functions as a continuous verb phrase, describing an ongoing action in the past. It indicates the process of waiting in a line or queue. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard English construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was queuing up" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe the action of waiting in a line, particularly in past contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and found frequently in journalistic and neutral settings. While "was standing in line" and "was waiting in line" serve as close alternatives, "was queuing up" effectively communicates an orderly wait in a line. The phrase, although not exceedingly common, is well-recognized and understood, making it a reliable choice for descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was standing in line

Emphasizes the physical act of standing while waiting.

was waiting in line

Highlights the act of waiting in an ordered sequence.

was lined up

Focuses on the formation of a line.

was in a queue

Uses the noun 'queue' to describe the state of waiting.

was awaiting one's turn

Highlights the expectation of an upcoming turn.

was in the line for

Specifies the purpose of waiting in line.

was positioned in the queue

Emphasizes the specific location within the line.

was part of the queue

Highlights the sense of being included in the line.

was forming a queue

Focuses on the queue that is being actively formed.

was next in line

Highlights that someone is about to be next.

FAQs

What does "was queuing up" mean?

"Was queuing up" means that someone was standing in a line, waiting for something. It suggests an ordered wait.

How can I use "was queuing up" in a sentence?

You can use "was queuing up" to describe a past action of waiting in line, like: "Yesterday, I "was queuing up" for concert tickets."

What can I say instead of "was queuing up"?

You can use alternatives like "was standing in line", "was waiting in line", or "was in a queue" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was queuing up"?

Yes, "was queuing up" is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in British English, to describe the action of waiting in a line.