We hear words all the time. We hear them in casual conversation, on television, and in public places. However, just because we hear these words does not mean that we know how to spell them, particularly when there are words that sound exactly the same while having vastly different meanings.
These homophones can be incredibly confusing. One such homophone pair is queue and cue. They’re both pronounced the same way, but they do not have the same meaning. In this way, you should be careful about which word you choose to write under which circumstances. Both queue and cue can be used as both nouns and verbs, causing possibly even further confusion.
Cue, as a noun, is a signal to begin. In the context of a stage play, for example, one actor’s cue to begin his soliloquy is when the spotlight is cast on him. Similarly, to cue (as a verb) refers to the act of providing this signal to begin. To cue is to prompt. When you tell someone to “cue the music,” you are telling them to “start the music now.”
Queue, as a noun, refers to a lineup. This usually implies a group of people waiting in line, as would be the case at the cash register at a supermarket. However, it can also refer to things other than people. For example, comments on this blog can sometimes be held in the moderation queue, waiting for approval. A queue is a line handled on a first come, first served basis.
Similarly, the verb to queue means to form or join this lineup. It can also mean to arrange people (or things) in a certain order. Going back to the example above, you could also tell someone to “queue the music.” This has quite a different meaning from “cue the music,” however. With “queue the music,” you are likely telling someone to organize the song list in a certain order. You are telling them to set up the “queue” of tracks. You are not telling them to “start the music now.”
Do you have a suggestion for a future Grammar 101 post? Let me know and I’ll add it to the queue of topics. If I happen to forget your suggestion, don’t hesitate to give me the cue too.
Don’t forget the pool cue. 🙂
Good one. Thanks Tom.
I don’t think I would use “queue the music.” and “cue the music” in sentences without qualifying what I meant. It seems it would be hard to understand without an adjective to help know which one was meant.
How about here vs hear for future Grammar 101 post? Or have they been done before?
Duly noted. Added to the queue.
Here you go!
Grammar 101: Here and Hear
Here’s one example I see often. That of ‘clique’ and ‘click’. Clique is a group of people sharing common interests whereas click is the sound made by an machine or instrument as we all know. These two words are frequently confused. More often, clique is mistaken as click since the latter is more popular.
Part of that has to do with the anglicization of certain words (like clique). The spelling throws off people who speak/write mostly in English. I’ve seen some people butcher a “prix fixe” menu into a “prefix” menu or a plate of “hors d’oeuvres” into a plate of “horderves” (not even joking).
Haha, I’m surprised they actually took the trouble of including the ‘h’ and not just writing orderves!
How about discrete and discreet? Disperse/disburse? altogether/all together?
Also, people sometimes use “alright” as one word, when you would never think to write “alwrong” as one word!!
Thanks for the suggestions!
Here is my post on discrete and discreet. I’ll add the others to the queue. 🙂
And here are the other two you requested!
Grammar 101: Disperse and Disburse
Grammar 101: Altogether, All Together
How about a 101 on “there”, “their” and “they’re”?
Here you go:
Grammar 101: There, Their, and They’re