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standing on line vs standing in line

Both "standing on line" and "standing in line" are commonly used phrases, but their usage depends on regional differences. "Standing in line" is more widely accepted and used in American English, while "standing on line" is more common in British English. Both phrases convey the same meaning of waiting in a queue.

Last updated: March 06, 2024 • 1093 views

standing on line

This phrase is correct in British English, where it is commonly used to mean waiting in a queue.

This phrase is commonly used in British English to indicate waiting in a queue. It may sound unusual to speakers of American English, who typically use "standing in line" instead.

Examples:

  • In London, people are used to standing on line for the bus.
  • She was standing on line at the supermarket checkout.
  • The students were standing on line to enter the museum.
  • Aug 7, 2010 ... I'm curious to hear from folks in the the Northeast United States (or anyone, really ) an explanation of why "standing on line" seems preferable to ...
  • Mar 26, 2015 ... The next time you visit the northern East Coast, see if you hear people talking about standing on line, and if you're from the East Coast and ...
  • Jun 29, 2007 ... For example, Mary wrote that she read a story in the New York Times describing people standing on line instead of standing in line. She said ...
  • Dec 20, 2006 ... “Standing on line” is more of a northeastern way of saying “standing in line”. There isn't really much significance to it other than to say that ...

Alternatives:

  • standing in line
  • queuing up
  • waiting in line
  • lining up
  • waiting in a queue

standing in line

This phrase is widely accepted in American English to mean waiting in a queue.

This phrase is commonly used in American English to indicate waiting in a queue. It may sound unusual to speakers of British English, who typically use "standing on line" instead.

Examples:

  • We spent hours standing in line for concert tickets.
  • The customers were patiently standing in line at the bank.
  • She was tired of standing in line at the post office.
  • Tell that to all the people standing in line.
  • 15 civilians standing in line, picking their noses, waiting to take a shower.
  • You don't know what it's like to be standing in line at the bank and hear the guy behind you thinking about how he wants to suck your toes. Ew.
  • Skip the Line Save hours without standing in line, with our tickets you have priority access!
  • I was standing in line at this food truck, and I got this awesome idea.
  • No way I'm standing in line for it.
  • Please, have your declaration form and I-94 filled out before standing in line.
  • I was standing in line for ice cream, somebody cut in front of me...
  • It just proves that one moment you can be standing in line, trying to get a salted pretzel, and the next you're choking on your own blood.
  • In the music video The Calling is performing outside while a bunch of people are standing in line taking turns "singing" a duet with Alex Band.
  • She was standing in line at The Cheesecake Factory one day and boom.
  • I was standing in line in the doughnut shop.
  • I was standing in line to buy my copy of the biggest Virtual-reality game in history.
  • To me, they looked like 200 people standing in line at the pharmacy.
  • It is incredible - Galoppi stated- to see the enthusiasm of the Japanese public standing in line, since the very first screening.
  • I got a hundred guys standing in line that are just like you,
  • I check the guy standing in line behind me... if it's not him, that's pretty much all I can do.
  • Young mothers were standing in line... to get some food... as there'd been a severe drought in Niger in '73.
  • So there I am, standing in line for this cattle call, and I run into Coriolanus Burt.
  • Now they are all standing in line to take their picture with King Kong, the hairless, pale and skinny version of it. Surprised and fairly shocked I undergo this torture with a couple of ladies.

Alternatives:

  • standing on line
  • queuing up
  • waiting in line
  • lining up
  • waiting in a queue

Related Comparisons

on line vs online at day vs on day waiting in line vs waiting on line stand on line vs stand in line wait in line vs wait on line in line vs on line

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