The subject of this post is JUST, a four-letter word that sneaks into sentences without invitation. Learn when to let it stay … and when to hit DELETE!
JUST draws out sentences, whether to soften them or add emphasis. While JUST has its place, especially in dialogue, be wary: once it slips in, it strives to subvert as many carefully wrought sentences as possible. If you suffer from a JUST affliction, rest assured you’re in good company. When it happens to me, do I shrug and let JUST run amok? No! And neither should you! I fought back by becoming a JUST DETECTIVE, and I’m going to train all of you to become one, too.
** JUST DETECTIVE TRAINING**
PART ONE
The following sentences are written with and without JUST. Imagine the JUST-infected versions occurring one after the other in your manuscript. If you don’t catch the overuse of JUST, I guarantee your readers will.
**YOUR TASK**
Allow JUST to remain in one sentence only. I trust you’ll see how removing the four-letter word makes sentences more direct.
1.) Just remember to sign your name.
Remember to sign your name.
2.) Do you just want to mull it over before making a final decision?
Do you want to mull it over before making a final decision?
3.) Will you just quiet down?
Will you quiet down?
4.) I just can’t figure out the answer to that question.
I can’t figure out the answer to that question!
5.) John just drives me crazy when he blasts his music.
John drives me crazy when he blasts his music.
6.) I just can’t listen to any more of your excuses!
I can’t listen to any more of your excuses!
Here’s my vote, whether JUST shows up five times on a single page or once every 5,000 words: delete JUST in examples #1-#5 but let it remain in #6. This is the emotional scene that plays out in my imagination:
“I just can’t listen to any more of your excuses!” Marigold screams amidst a growing mound of soggy tissues. “Missing my birthday dinner is the final straw! Get out before I throw you out!”
What scene do you imagine using the sentence you chose? You’ll receive a gold star if you share it in the comments section!
Congratulations for completing Part One of your JUST DETECTIVE test. That wasn’t too bad, was it?
** JUST DETECTIVE TRAINING**
PART TWO
There are two cases where JUST use is grammatically acceptable. To help illustrate them, I offer two sentences for each.
***CASE #1: When an action was recently completed. ***
1.) The floor was just waxed. Don’t step on it yet!
2.) Spring term just kicked off at my son’s college.
***CASE #2: When a character wants to indicate they’re almost ready.***
1.) I just need to turn off all the lights. I’ll text when I’m ready to walk.
2.) I just need ten more seconds. Please don’t leave without me!
**YOUR TASK**
Here is my question for you to ponder: when grammatically appropriate, is JUST your only choice?
I hope you said an emphatic NO! Whenever your detective work reveals you’re relying on JUST too much, challenge yourself to rewrite your sentences. To prove this point, here are the above sentences with JUST-FREE alternatives written underneath.
1.) The floor was just waxed. Don’t step on it yet!
The floor is freshly waxed! Be careful or you’ll slip.
2.) Spring term just kicked off at my son’s college.
I wish Eric a wonderful spring term at college. I can’t believe his sophomore year is half over!
3.) I just need to turn off all the lights. I’ll text when I’m ready to walk.
I need a few minutes. I’ll text when I’m ready to walk.
4.) I just need ten more seconds. Please don’t leave without me!
I’m almost ready! Please don’t leave without me.
Congratulations! You are now a certified JUST DETECTIVE. If you need help rooting out JUST in your manuscripts, here’s a tip using Microsoft Word: click Find under the Edit menu and type in JUST (lower case and without caps.) Word will highlight everywhere it occurs, which allows you to evaluate whether to keep, delete, or completely rewrite each sentence containing a highlight. If you remember to do a JUST CHECK before you submit, your characters, critique partners, editors, agents, readers, and listeners will thank you!
Before I sign off, I leave you with this side note: When we tell ourselves to JUST DO IT (cue the Nike ad for inspiration), it’s a shot in the arm (or butt) to stop procrastinating and get moving. But telling others is akin to saying with gritted teeth, “My patience is wearing thin. Do it NOW before I totally lose it!” If you want to instigate verbal or physical sparring between family members, friends, colleagues, or fictional characters, go ahead and borrow this phrase.
That’s a wrap! Stay tuned for a discussion about EVEN, the 2nd post in my Sneaky Words Series. You don’t have long to wait, as it will air on Writers’ Rumpus next Tuesday!
WRITERS' RUMPUS 
Excellent reminder! I’m guilty of using it too often, along with many others. They have a tendency to creep in. Thanks for the tip about using the word search on Google Word. I didn’t know about that one!
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Thank you, Marty! The Microsoft Word search and find feature is quite handy, but you will need to scan through your manuscript to find the highlighted words.
Happy writing!
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So helpful! Thank you, Laura!
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Great post, Laura! All of your examples do appear much stronger without ‘just.’ I was going to do a similar sentence to what Darlene posted for #4 (except hers is probably better 🙂 ). I have trouble with all of the above: just, so, that. In my second sentence, I went back and forth on whether to say: All of your examples OR All your examples. Is the ‘of’ another of my problem words? Perhaps it’s like what Becca said about sort of and kind of…
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Dear Marcia,
Your question is a tough one! I prefer “All of your examples” but think that either way works. I definitely need to give “that” some serious thought.
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Maybe the word, Just, can signal some perplexity and/or a slowing down of a statement. For instance, ‘Just remember to sign your name,’ slows down the sentence so the listener can take in more slowly what he needs to do. The sentence, ‘Will you just quiet down,’ shows that the speaker cannot understand why the listener won’t quiet down. I think when I want to slow down a command, I often use the word, just. But you highlight how this takes away the force of a statement in one’s writing. Plus, it is overused.
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Dear Adaela,
In your example, “just” indicates exasperation (or emphasis, as I called it above). There are many other ways to “slow down” sentences and dialogue without using “just”! For example, your character could say instead, “Would you quiet down already? It’s past midnight!”
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Oh, this one is just the best! 😉 I am guilty as charged. Another good post would be regarding the use of “that” in sentences. I am an overuser!
I hear that you are a bird expert.
Tell me that you are going with me.
???
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Dear Angie,
Thank you so much! “That” is a tricky one, worthy of in-depth treatment.
Here’s how I suggest altering your example sentences:
I’ve heard you’re a bird expert.
I hear you’re a bird expert.
Tell me you will go with me.
Tell me you’ll go with me.
This brings up another of my dialogue-related tips! In speech or dialogue, using contractions sounds smoother and less formal. When characters don’t use contractions, it sounds stilted and formal! I think it’s fine to have one formal character, but that most characters will naturally speak in a less formal way. (Ooh- I used “that” in a sentence!)
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Oh my goodness, I need to be reminded of this. Very helpful read, thank you! I also lean heavily on the word ‘very’. I *just* need to be more concise! Haha!
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Thanks, Hilary! Yes, “very” is easy to lean on. I find myself leaning on “so”, too.
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“Just” is my Achilles’ heel! I have to consciously pluck it out of every draft as it sneaks in even when I think I am being careful.
Fun post!
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Dear Cathy,
You aren’t alone! I think you’ll enjoy next week’s EVEN post, too!
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I am guilty of overusing the word just. I agree, the writing is better without it. I thought #4 would be Ok using this scenario: Alison held her head between her hands. “I just can’t figure out the answer to that question. It’s driving me crazy and giving me a headache.” I think in dialogue it works because normal people talk that way.
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Dear Darlene,
You earned a gold star for sharing your scenario! Yes, “just” is most frequently overused in dialogue. Sometimes, it’s A-OK to leave it, as it sounds natural. But when it shows up in every sentence or page, we should challenge ourselves to replace it.
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A gold star, yippee!! I agree that sometimes there are just too many justs! I tend to go through the manuscript before publishing and removing 90% of them.
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What a great post! Thank you.
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Dear Claire,
You’re quite welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
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I always love your grammar posts, Laura, but this one hits close to home! I have so many of these little words that creep into my writing (just, kind of, sort of, etc) and usually it all boils down to your advice: the sentence is stronger without them. Thanks for this reminder and refresher 🙂
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Thanks for the reminder, Laura! I have to be diligent about skimming the fat in my manuscripts. I’m a picture book author— five hundred words or less!
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Dear Sharon,
You’re welcome. Yes, when writing picture books, it’s especially important to watch out for unnecessary words!
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Dear Rebecca,
I’m blushing! I’m soooo glad you enjoy my grammar posts. Just is the #1 overused word I’ve come across in my many, many years of writing and critiquing.
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