TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:'in queue' v. 'in the queue' From:Laurah Limbrick <laurah_limbrick -at- CSGSYSTEMS -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 13 Jul 1999 10:03:52 -0600
Greetings techwhirlers--
Recently a style issue arose at my office regarding the correct usage of
'queue'. I wanted to find out what the generally accepted usage is. We
checked MS style manual, Sun's _Read Me First_, and Chicago. Nothing
showed us the way.
So, our question is, what seems to be the preferred usage: 'in queue'
or 'in the queue'?
Example: 'The call list box in the bottom half of the window allows you
to view either live calls or customers in queue for callbacks.'
One school of thought says 'customers in the queue' and the other says
'customers in queue'. My feeling is that 'in queue' is describing the
state of the customer, and is being used as an adjectival phrase, while
'in the queue' puts more focus on the state of being in the queue.
Sure, this seems petty to some, but here at CSG, WE NEED TO KNOW! :)
TIA,
Laurah
begin:vcard
n:Limbrick;Laurah
tel;fax:303.200.3153
tel;work:303.200.3364 or 1.800.366.2744 x3364
x-mozilla-html:TRUE
org:CSG Systems, Inc.;Product Delivery Organization
version:2.1
email;internet:laurah_limbrick -at- csgsystems -dot- com
title:Senior Technical Writer
adr;quoted-printable:;;5970 S. Greenwood Plaza Blvd.=0D=0ASuite 201;Englewood;Colorado;80111;USA
x-mozilla-cpt:;-1
fn:Laurah Limbrick
end:vcard