Nick's Guide to Great Writing!

This material is on nuances, and shades of gray. While it is included in the writing section of my homepage, it is useful for speakers and general students of English, both native and non-native learners of English vocabulary.

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1 elementary
5 intermediate
9 advanced

just

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2 - 3

Explanation, discussion and example(s):

Just is a word in a class by itself. Many of you seem to use the word in the sense of "chotto", which it CAN mean when used differently. Please study the following for meanings and examples:

Just as an adjective In these meanings, justly is an adverb and justness is a noun conforming to fact or reason, reasonable, conforming to a standard of correctness, proper; acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good, righteous, what is merited or deserved; legally correct; lawful
The company's offer of 4.2 billion dollars was just, but not generous.	In the old days, people often thought death, disease, disasters like earthquakes and famine were just punishments from a vengeful god.
Some say America's role in the middle east at the turn of the millennium was as in a just war, while others say it was an act of aggression to ensure America's unending supply of cheap oil and gas for their people.	Often what is morally just may not be legal, and what is legally just may not be moral.
Just as an adverb exactly, precisely; very recently; by a very small margin; barely; closely, directly; only, simply; quite; very; perhaps, possibly
Goldilocks found the porridge of the baby bear just right.		I never know how to act on a date. My friends say, "Just be yourself," but I can't.
The plane had just taken off when the earthquake struck		I think it is just fantastic that your daughter won the prize.
Bush just won Florida by a few votes, and that only because his Dad's friends in the Supreme Court made sure no one could challenge them.		I don't know, if we cut back on expenses here, we might save some jobs next year. It just might work.
Oh! I know the answer! It's just on the tip of my tongue.		.

Note that one of the problems with many of your sentences is the use of JUST followed by an adjective. This can and does happen, but please be careful. Perhaps the biggest mistake is in short answers. We DO use short answers (i.e. not complete sentences) in English, but here you should use care.

Look at this example:

How are you? (How's the weather?)

Just hot.	This one sounds a little funny to the native ear.
Just a little hot.	This one means the temperature is a little high or I have a small fever.
I'm just a little hot.	This one means the temperature is a little high or I have a small fever.
I'm just hot.	This one means my ONLY problem is that I am hot or have a fever. Note that it may be a response to the above question, but more likely a response to a question asking what is wrong. (What's wrong? What's the matter?)

Note(s):

Exercise(s):

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Nick's Guide to Great Writing!

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