Terminology Debate

[checkwriter]

I grew up in Illinois, where I waited "in" line. Then I moved to New York and I now wait "on" line.

 

[WLfan]

Speaking for Long Islanders, I'm definitely standing ON line ... for Dole Whips.

 

[mjperry]

You are in queue.

 

[msteddom]

Please refer to my tag
<---------------

Melissa

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I'm "in" line too!

 

[kaytieeldr]

From the dialect map I've linked to from the website, it's clear that people who say on line are clustered in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, possibly Philadelphia.

Mm, nope. I've lived or been various places around this state, and I've never heard anyone - at least any apparent native - say "on line"... unless, well, as indicated above, they're talking about being connected to the Internet.

 

[Alztybrn]

I love grammar debates!
In Line Versus On Line
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/regionalisms.aspx

What a great website. It was fun to look at all the other debates!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Philly girl that is IN line.

 

[luke]

Another vote for IN.

Now that that's settled maybe the UK folks can tell me why they say a person went to hospital, instead of went to THE hospital.

I'd say "going the hospital" (missing out "to") completely!!

Us from Liverpool are wierd tho

 

[Twheezy]

Alztybrn has got it right ... "in" line for sure.

The only line I want to be standing "on" is the masking tape line at the end of Main Street in the evening ... great view for Wishes!!!!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

From the dialect map I've linked to from the website, it's clear that people who say on line are clustered in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, possibly Philadelphia. This is a very small but densely populated, media-rich area. The phrase standing on line will probably spread as it becomes widely distributed by large New York television programs and publications and as people travel and move in and out of the region.

Everyone I know from MA says "in line", so I'm guessing that it's those that are in the far western corner of the state (you know, the Yankees fans ) that have it wrong AGAIN.....

 

[crazydisneyman]

I live in INdiana. And here in INdiana we wait "IN" line.

Now I am also a web developer and I am "ON" line most of the day, but I only wait "IN" line at WDW.

 

[TheBeadPirate]

We wait "ON" line, of course we also "make groceries" as opposed to buying them

 

[exwdwcm]

i don't think i've heard anyone even say 'waiting on line'.......

i definitely use in line

 

[FireDancer]

I'm firmly in the in-line camp. Not even sure how the other way makes sense!
Just a little English point of view

I thought your guys waited in queue over there. Has BBC America been lying to me all these years?

I think in the internet age the term online has become more applied to being on the Internet while inline is used for standing in a line. If you look down and are not standing on a painted line I guess you aren’t online though, are you?

 

[jenmom24ks]

Definitely "IN" line. Lived my whole life in Oklahoma and Kansas and never heard waiting "on" line until listening to a podcast recently (can't remember which one). I thought maybe I was just too sheltered here in the midwest and had just never heard it the other way.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Mm, nope. I've lived or been various places around this state, and I've never heard anyone - at least any apparent native - say "on line"... unless, well, as indicated above, they're talking about being connected to the Internet.

I live in Jersey and have used both on and in line.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

"On" line is a NY/NJ thing, I think. It's not all yankees, b/c my parents are from PA and they say "in" line.

Yup, I'm a NYer and I say "on" line. Do I sound like a dope?

 

[Alztybrn]

Yup, I'm a NYer and I say "on" line. Do I sound like a dope?

Yup...j/k

Where are you from in the finger lakes region? My wife and I grew up in Auburn. (and we both say "in" line )

 

[mla1977]

Hmm... I grew up in Connecticut and I've been living in the Philly region for 10 years now (WOW - time flies) and I have never said "waiting on line" unless I meant "waiting online". I'll quiz my family when I see them this weekend, but I believe they are a bunch of New Englanders who wait in line too!