Cue notation is a method for transcribing handshape and placement sequences in written form. This system is not meant to serve as written language for Cued Speech users. Native cuers simply use the written form of the language they cue (e.g., written English for cued English users). Cue notation, on the other hand, simply indicates how a word is cued, which can be helpful for students who learn the system as adults.
Each handshape in the American English system is assigned a number from one to eight. This number is solely for reference and does not indicate the how the English words for numbers (e.g., six, eight, one) are cued. The numbers generally correspond to the number of extended fingers when the handshape is formed. For example, the handshape for /d/ (the pointer finger alone is extended) is referred to as Handshape 1. The handshape for /k/ (the index and middle fingers are extended) is referred to as Handshape 2. The handshape for /h/ (with extended middle, ring, and pinky fingers) is referred to as Handshape 3. After Handshape 5 (for which all five fingers are extended), the thumb carries a value of five. So the handshape for /l/ (with the thumb and index finger extended) is referred to as Handshape 6. The exception to these rules is Handshape 8. Handhshape 8 is formed similarly to Handshape 2 by extending the index and middle finger, however, the fingers are spread apart.
| Cue Notation Symbol | Handshape | Phonemes |
| 1 | 1 | /d, p, zh/ |
| 2 | 2 | /k, v, TH, z/ |
| 3 | 3 | /h, r, s/ |
| 4 | 4 | /b, n, wh/ |
| 5 | 5 | /m, f, t/ |
| 6 | 6 | /l, sh, w/ |
| 7 | 7 | /j, g, th/ |
| 8 | 8 | /g, y, ng/ |
An exception to the numbering system is Cued Speech adaptation for Polish – Fonogesty. Our handshape 5 is referred to as Układ 1 in Fonogesty. Our handshape 3 is their Układ 8.
The placements are each assigned a letter corresponding to the first letter of the name for the placement. The letter "c" stands for the "chin" and "m" stands for the "mouth".
| Cue Notation Symbol | Placement | Phonemes |
| c | chin | /aw, e, ue/ |
| m | mouth | /ee, ur/ |
| t | throat | /a, i, oo/ |
| s | side | N/A (consonant alone) |
| sd | side-down | /uh/ |
| sd | side-forward | /ah, oe/ |
Because cueing represents consonant-vowel units, both the number (handshape) and letter (placement) must be written sequentially. Following are some examples:
| Word | Phonemes | Meta Information | Cue Notation |
| He | /hee/ |
h = handshape 3 ee = mouth placement |
3m |
| She | /shee/ |
sh = handshape 6 ee = mouth placement |
6m |
| Him | /hi, m/ |
h = handshape 3 i = throat placement m = handshape 5 _ = side placement (consonant alone) |
3t5s |
| Her | /hur/ |
h = handshape 3 ur = mouth placement |
3m |
| Me | /mee/ |
m = handshape 5 ee = mouth placement |
5m |
| You | /yue/ |
y = handshape 8 ue = chin placement |
8c |
| Heater | /hee, tur/ |
h = handshape 3 ee = mouth placement t = handshape 5 ur = mouth placement |
3m5m |
| Finish | /fi, ni, sh/ |
f = handshape 5 i = throat placement n = handshape 4 i = throat placement sh = handshape 6 _ = side placement (consonant alone) |
5t4t6s |
Strictly speaking, diphthongs are two vowels in sequence, moving from either the side placement to the throat placement (/ie, ou/) or from the chin placement to the throat placement (/ay, oy/). For beginning instruction, instructors may use hyphens in cue notation to assist beginning cuers with identifying diphthongs. You may see either:
hey = 3c5t OR 3c-5t
how = 3s5t OR 3s-5t