Cool MateCue vs Hint vs Indication vs Notice vs Prompt
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cue
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Hint
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Indication
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Notice
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Prompt
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
| Cue | Hint | Indication | Notice | Prompt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kjuː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kjuː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/hɪnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɪnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪs/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪst/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪs/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪst/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //prɒmpt//🇺🇸 //prɑːmpt// |
| Meaning | A signal or reminder to do something. | A small clue or piece of information. | A sign or suggestion that something is true or might happen. | to see or pay attention to something | to encourage someone to do something. |
| Example | He gave me a subtle cue to start the presentation. | She gave me a subtle hint about the surprise party. | The sudden drop in temperature is an indication that a storm is approaching. | I didn't notice the time passing while I was reading. | The teacher will prompt you to think critically about the topic. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 | B2 | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | verb | verb |
| Collocations | visual, wait for, follow, take, on cue, cue for, right on cue, take your cue from somebody/something, visual, wait for, follow, take, on cue, cue for, right on cue, take your cue from somebody/something | big, broad, clear, drop, give (somebody), catch, hint about, hint from, hint to, big, broad, clear, drop, give (somebody), catch, hint about, hint from, hint to, strong, barest, faint, detect, notice, sense, hint of, at the first hint of something, handy, helpful, practical, give (somebody), offer (somebody), hint about, hint on | firm, good, strong, be, serve as, have, point to something, show something, suggest something, amid indications of, amid indications that…, indication as to, (all) the indications are that…, early indications are that…, preliminary indications are that… | not even, not really, barely, fail to, not appear to, not seem to, can’t help but notice something, can’t help noticing something, the first thing I, he, etc. noticed, not even, not really, barely, fail to, not appear to, not seem to, can’t help but notice something, can’t help noticing something, the first thing I, he, etc. noticed | prompt an action, prompt a response, prompt someone to do something, prompt questions, prompt feedback |
| Antonyms | distraction, misdirection | guess, certainty, statement | confusion, ambiguity | ignore, overlook | deter, discourage |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'cue' with 'queue' which means a line of people., Using 'cues' instead of 'cue' when referring to a single signal., Mispronouncing 'cue' as 'kyoo' instead of 'kwu' in some dialects. | Confused with 'hint' as a noun and a verb., Using 'hint' in formal contexts where a clearer statement is better., Forgetting to use 'at' or 'about' after 'hint'. | Confused with 'indicate' as a verb., Using 'indication' without a clear object or context., Mixing up 'indication' with similar-sounding words like 'indecision'. | 'Notice' is sometimes confused with 'notify' — 'to notify' means to inform someone., Learners may use 'noticing' incorrectly as a noun; the correct noun is 'notice'., Some learners forget to use 'notice' in the simple past form 'noticed' when talking about past events. | Confusing with 'propose' - 'prompt' is more about encouragement., Using 'prompt' without a following action - it usually needs something to follow., Saying 'prompt someone for doing' instead of 'prompt someone to do'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'cue' when referring to signals, especially in performances or sports. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. | Use 'hint' when suggesting something indirectly. It's more formal in writing and more casual in conversation. Avoid using it in situations that require direct communication. | Used in both spoken and written contexts. It's more common in formal discussions, such as reports or presentations. Avoid using it in very casual conversations. | Use 'notice' when you become aware of something. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but more formal contexts might use 'observe' instead. | Use 'prompt' in formal or neutral contexts when encouraging action or thought. Avoid in informal conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Cue vs Hint vs Indication vs Notice vs Prompt
What's the difference between Cue, Hint, Indication, Notice, and Prompt?
Cue: A signal or reminder to do something. Hint: A small clue or piece of information. Indication: A sign or suggestion that something is true or might happen. Notice: to see or pay attention to something Prompt: to encourage someone to do something.
Which is more advanced: Cue, Hint, Indication, Notice, and Prompt?
Hint is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Cue, Hint, Indication, Notice, and Prompt the same CEFR level?
Cue: B2, Hint: C1, Indication: B2, Notice: A2, Prompt: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Cue, Hint, Indication, Notice, and Prompt?
Cue: noun, Hint: noun, Indication: noun, Notice: verb, Prompt: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Cue: He gave me a subtle cue to start the presentation. Hint: She gave me a subtle hint about the surprise party. Indication: The sudden drop in temperature is an indication that a storm is approaching. Notice: I didn't notice the time passing while I was reading. Prompt: The teacher will prompt you to think critically about the topic.
Can I use Cue, Hint, Indication, Notice, and Prompt interchangeably?
Not always. Cue, Hint, Indication, Notice, and Prompt are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.