Am I outta line?

[Micca]

I just heard on CNN a reporter that said "...when Roy Disney is at a park, he waits on line just like everybody else." Here in the midwest, when we are lined-up to wait for something (like POTC), we are "in line". In other parts of the country you are "on line". Yet, right now as I write this I am "on-line", but there is no one standing in front of me. If "on line" is correct, then where did the phrase "that's/you're out of line" come from? Why wouldn't people say, "hey buddy, you're off line"? My apologies if my question is "out of line" or "off line".

 

[joshsmom]

Since I started coming here, I noticed LOTS of people say "on line" when we say "in line" around here. It took ALOT of getting used to. Maybe "in lilne" IS a Midwest thing!!

 

[Kermit]

I say "in line." I think that people say "online" because they're more used to saying that now that the Internet is so pervasive.

 

[powellrj]

In line is a midwest thing, and on line is more east coast I think.

 

[Blondie]

I've lived on the east coast my entire life and I've always waited in line not on line!

I've always told my kids to "wait here in line while I go get the milk I forgot or go get in line and I'll meet you there!

 

[msteddom]

We always wait in line in California, just like we sit in traffic

 

[jjskribs]

I'm from the northeast and I have never heard anyone here say "on-line."

 

[pw2pp]

It is definitely INLINE

 

[mad4themouse]

I grew up in Pittsburgh where we always waited "in line". I moved to Philly and suddenly I'm informed that I've been wrong all my life. Here most people are waiting "on line" even when they're nowhere near a computer.

 

[airhead]

...we're in line!

 

[Virgo10]

I don't know about the line thing but why is it that there's a word deplane meaning get off an airplane and not detrain or decar??


Roberta

 

[Banzai]

To me, Online is when you are on the internet, or AIM. To be in queue is to be in line.

 

[TheButlerDiditt]

I'm glad somebody brought this up as it drives me crazy. I'm in the "In-Line" group. However, since I moved to New York two years ago, I've NEVER heard anybody say "In-Line". At first, I thought it was cute - people saying "On-Line", but what's up with that?! Unless there is a painted line on the floor, it is the people who make the line. And you stand IN it...

 

[PKK/MJK]

Our family definitely uses ''In line''--of course, Mom and Dad were born and raised in the midwest. We've lived in NJ for a long time, though, and I don't recall people in this area saying 'on line'' unless they're talking about computers.

 

[phillybeth]

Born and raised in Philly and I say IN line. I don't know anyone who says on line unless they are talking about computers.

 

[BabyLove99]

I live right outside of Philly and I've always said "in line," along with everyone I know here.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

NC=In Line

Lori

 

[2bemarried]

Born and raised in NC....we're all IN line... ON line is for the computer. Although I know many people who say in queue...only queue's I have are when my files need printing.

 

[bekkiz]

I live in California, but just got back from a trip to NYC. Heard lots of "on lines" there. The other funny one was when you went into a pizza place or whatever, they ask "to stay or to go?" I had never heard that, it's always for here or to go?

 

[msdznyduck]

Born and raised in NJ.......always in line.....usually the longest one!LOL