at just

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at just" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific point in time or a particular moment when something occurs, often emphasizing the exactness of that moment. Example: "The meeting will start at just 3 PM, so please be on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At just before 3 a.m.

The New York Times

How could she die at just 41?

The Guardian

Yingli weighs in at just $700m.

The Economist

Its taxes grew at just 7 percent.

The New York Times

Prices start at just under $500.

The New York Times

A 'coward' at just 17.

The Guardian

At just 18 years old.

The Guardian - Sport

Rooms start at just $55.

The Guardian - Travel

A year earlier it stood at just 5.2%.

The Economist

Read the full post at Just Security.

Stanford University

Unemployment hovers at just under 8percentt.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at just" to emphasize a surprisingly small or precise amount, age, or time, adding a touch of emphasis to the statement. For example, "The price starts at just $10", highlights the affordability.

Common error

Avoid using "at just" excessively in formal writing where a more neutral phrase like "at only" or "precisely at" might be more appropriate. Overusing it can sound repetitive or informal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at just" typically functions as a prepositional modifier, emphasizing the exactness or surprisingly low value of a quantity, time, or age. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase modifies a price (e.g., "Prices start at just under $500") or an age (e.g., "At just 18 years old").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at just" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, per Ludwig AI, designed to emphasize a specific, often surprisingly small, amount, time, or age. It functions as a prepositional modifier, adding emphasis and drawing attention to the precise or minimal nature of the detail being described. While suitable for neutral contexts like news and media, it's best to use more formal alternatives in academic or scientific writing if the aim is to avoid any perceived informality. Examples from Ludwig show it effectively highlights price points, ages, and other values, underscoring their significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at only

Focuses on limiting the quantity or extent; very similar in meaning.

exactly at

Highlights the accuracy or correctness of a specific point; very close in meaning.

at a mere

Stresses the insignificance or smallness of something; more emphatic.

at merely

Emphasizes the small amount or degree involved; less common.

at simply

Highlights the straightforward or uncomplicated nature; slightly more informal.

in only

Focuses on the limited duration or extent; more concise.

precisely at

Indicates exactness and accuracy, suitable when referring to time or specific measurements; more formal.

at a minimum of

Indicates a base level or requirement; slightly more formal.

no more than

Implies a maximum limit or threshold; different structural emphasis.

at a low of

Suggests a minimum value or the lowest point in a range; context-specific.

FAQs

How can I use "at just" in a sentence?

You can use "at just" to emphasize a small amount, such as "The item is priced "at just" $5", or a young age, like "She started her company "at just" 20 years old."

What are some alternatives to "at just"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "at only", "at merely", or "precisely at" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

Is it grammatically correct to use "at just"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in both spoken and written English to emphasize a specific point or a surprisingly small quantity. The phrase is found in many reliable sources.

What's the difference between ""at just"" and "at only"?

While both phrases indicate a limited quantity or point, ""at just"" often carries a slightly stronger sense of surprise or emphasis on the smallness of the quantity, whereas "at only" is more neutral.