FAQs about commonly confused words

Is it on cue or on queue?

In the phrase on cue, “cue” (not “queue”) is the correct spelling.

If something happens “on cue,” it happens precisely when expected or at a favorable time. People often use it ironically to mean “just my luck that that should happen at that particular time” (e.g., “And as if on cue, it started to rain just as I left my apartment”).

It’s important to choose the right word when deciding whether cue or queue is correct because they have different meanings.

Why not try out QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you avoid errors with commonly confused words such as “cue” and “queue”?

Read this FAQ: Is it on cue or on queue?

What does que mean?

Que is a common misspelling of the words “queue” and “cue.”

It’s important to make the right choice when deciding if cue or queue is the correct word for a specific context because they have different meanings.

Que is also an abbreviation for the Canadian province Quebec.

Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up typos such as “que” instead of “queue” in your writing.

Read this FAQ: What does que mean?

Is it cue the music or queue the music?

In the phrase cue the music, “cue” (not “queue”) is the correct spelling.

You say “cue the music” to instruct someone to start playing music at a specific point in a stage performance (e.g., a play) or a live broadcast (e.g., a  radio show) or to add music to video or film at a specific point (e.g., “We should cue the music here when she opens the curtains”).

When deciding if cue or queue is the correct spelling for a particular context, it’s important to make the right choice because the two words have different meanings.

Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use commonly confused words such as cue and queue correctly in your writing.

Read this FAQ: Is it cue the music or queue the music?

What is the plural of person?

The plural noun of “person” can be persons or people, depending on the context.

“People” is the more common plural of “person” in general English. It means “human beings,” especially as a group (e.g., “Ten people came to my party,” or “English people love tea”).

“Persons” is found in formal, legal, technical, and official contexts. It means “various individuals” (e.g. “The court will try these four persons for their crimes,” or “Police are working to find the missing persons”).

If you’re not sure which word is the best choice in your writing, use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to check.

Read this FAQ: What is the plural of person?

Why does people vs persons exist in the English language?

We can use persons or people in English to mean slightly different things.

“Persons” means “several individuals,” while “people” means “a group of humans.”

The slight difference in the meanings of these words comes from their Latin origins.

“Persons” comes from the Latin “persona,” meaning “mask,” or “character.” “Persona” evolved to mean “individual,” and that meaning is preserved in the English words “person” and “persons.”

“People” comes from the Latin “populus,” which means “population,” or “group of humans.” This is why the English “people” has its group-focused meaning.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you make sure you’re using persons or people correctly.

Read this FAQ: Why does people vs persons exist in the English language?

Is peoples’ correct?

The possessive noun peoples’ is correct when you want to talk about something that belongs to more than one cultural or ethnic group.

If you want to talk about something that belongs to one specific cultural or ethnic group, you would use the form people’s.

For example, “the Spanish people’s opinions” refers to the opinions of just the Spanish. But, “the French and Spanish peoples’ opinions” refers to the opinions of both groups.

If you are writing in a legal, official, or technical context, it may be better to use persons’ as the possessive plural. This is because “persons” is preferred to “people” as the plural of “person” in these contexts.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can show you whether to use persons or people and if you’re using peoples’ and people’s correctly.

Read this FAQ: Is peoples’ correct?

What are some “people” synonyms?

Some synonyms for the noun “people” include:

• Persons*
• Humans
• Human beings
• Folks
• Population
• Public
• Populace
• Community
• Nation

*When choosing between persons or people, consider that “persons” means “various individuals” while “people” means “a group of humans.”

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you choose the best synonym for “people.”

Read this FAQ: What are some “people” synonyms?

How do you spell embedded?

You can spell embedded with an “e” or an “i” (i.e., imbedded or embedded), but “embedded” is more common in modern English and recommended in many style guides. It is therefore best to spell it “embedded” in formal writing (e.g., academic writing).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re spelling “embedded/imbedded” correctly in your writing.

Read this FAQ: How do you spell embedded?

What does embed mean?

Embed is a verb that means to set or fix firmly in a material or to make something an integral, established part of something else.

You can spell this word “imbed” or “embed” (or imbedded or embedded in their simple past tense and past participle forms), however “embed” is a much more common spelling.

Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use the word “embed” naturally in your writing.

Read this FAQ: What does embed mean?

What is a synonym for embedded?

Synonyms for embedded include:

• Encased
• Enclosed
• Rooted
• Entrenched
• Ingrained

“Imbedded” is not a synonym for “embedded” because imbedded and embedded are alternative spellings of the same word. “Embedded” has become the more standard spelling in modern English.

Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “embedded” in your specific context?

Read this FAQ: What is a synonym for embedded?