On Line vs. In Line

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Most anyone in the northeastern United States has likely heard someone refer to 'standing on line.' In most of the rest of the United States one hears 'standing in line.' Then there are those who queue.

Any of you care to share your thoughts? I'd also like hearing from those from outside the United States ... as to the custom in your area.

I seem to recall that mathmatically speaking a line has no thickness ... therefore mathmatically one can only be on a line, not in it.

I admit, I used all three.

 

[Thomas]

I hate lines, so I usually just come back later.

(also, this keeps me from trying to decide between the everyman "in line" and the posh "queue" when recording my actions for posterity)

 

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If no one else replies -- and I face the fact that this is NOT likely destined to be a popular thread -- it appears we have a four way tie.

 

[Dakota rube]

I stand "in line".
I tried to skate in-line, but that is not an activity suited for an old man like me.

And "queue" is just too pretentious for white trash like me. Well, and the Canadians around here think I am trying to emulate them, so I have double reason to avoid to term.

 

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I tried to skate in-line, but that is not an activity suited for an old man like me.

I tried that too, my behind did not appreciate it.

 

[Thomas]



I stand "in line".
I tried to skate in-line, but that is not an activity suited for an old man like me.
And "queue" is just too pretentious for white trash like me. Well, and the Canadians around here think I am trying to emulate them, so I have double reason to avoid to term.

Yeah, I have my own dubious history with in-line stakes. I dusted them off a month or so ago since our son and his friend wanted to go rollerskating and I thought, well, let's do this. So the kids skated, and the Mrs. and I skated, and both she and had a spill (separately), we both landed on our right elbows, and the pain has just recently subsided

 

[tropics]

i'm an irishman so i usually queue. after moving to chicago, i grew to love the brevity of being in the line. now i am in NY and totally thrown by the whole on line business.

 

[whiteslashasian]

I use all three! I never really thought about it until now...dammit!

 

[in stitches]

i say "on" or "in" line

usually depends on the word preceding it.

as in "waiting in line" or "standing on line"

but i never even thought about that before now. and im probably not 100% consistent about it either.

have never used queue outside of my printer.

this is so

 

[zippyh]

Complete with map.

http://dialect.redlog.net/staticmaps/q_93.html

 

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i say "on" or "in" line
usually depends on the word preceding it.
as in "waiting in line" or "standing on line"
but i never even thought about that before now. and im probably not 100% consistent about it either.
have never used queue outside of my printer.
this is so

Well you see ... in the Mighty Foo(l) thread ... there was this comment about dungarees. In my research to find out more about the things ... the on line/in line debate came up.

 

[in stitches]



Well you see ... in the Mighty Foo(l) thread ... there was this comment about dungarees. In my research to find out more about the things ... the on line/in line debate came up.

haha, i saw the dungaree comment but not the on/in line one.

 

[Master Milano]

Definitely on line more

 

[Britalian]

Strangely, I read the title as digital purchasing (on-line) vs. physically standing in a queue, or in-line.

 

[Blackhood]

I queue, always have and always will.