either just or

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either just or" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when presenting two options or conditions, typically in a context where one is expected to choose between them. Example: "In this situation, you can either just or completely ignore the rules."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Since the goods to be divided, exchanged and shared among individuals have social meanings that are specific to particular communities, it is only within their boundaries that conflict can be resolved and distributive schemes judged either just or unjust.

SEP

Yet American police and prosecutors are all too keen to defend these sentences as either just or justified collateral damage.In January, the United States Sentencing Commission proposed changes to federal guidelines that would have reduced penalties for some drug sentences.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It seems as if some festival or exhibit is always either just ending or about to start up.

The New York Times - Travel

Any occupant has either just arrived or is ready to leave, psychologically absent, or lost in thought.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Don't do it too often, or she might misinterpret it as either just friendliness or creepiness.

WikiHow

He usually does this either just before or just after a good lunch.

The Guardian - Travel

Nice story, although Grandpa was either just wrong or was flat-out making stuff up.

The New York Times

But it is hard to see how proposals for European democracy could avoid being either just cosmetic or contradictory.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Upper Room destroyed the idea that Ofili was about either just decoration or headline-grabbing dung.

The Guardian - Arts

We find that the transfer free energy of methylated benzylated DNA is better than that of either just methylated or benzylated DNA.

Biophysical Journal

We're at the Pentagon and our protest is either just over or about to begin.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "either just or" when presenting two options where the first option is a slightly less extreme or complete version of the second. For example, "The issue will either just fade away or escalate into a major problem."

Common error

Avoid using "just" excessively, as it can weaken the impact of your statement. If the meaning is clear without "just", consider omitting it to make your writing more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either just or" functions as a correlative conjunction, presenting two alternatives, where the first alternative is often a weaker or less extreme version of the second. This is supported by Ludwig's examples demonstrating choices between different states or actions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "either just or" is a correlative conjunction that presents two alternatives, where the first option is often a milder or less complete version of the second. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, although its occurrence is relatively rare. It is used in both news and scientific contexts, exhibiting a neutral register. When crafting your writing, consider alternative phrasing to ensure clarity and impact, avoiding overuse of "just" as a filler. Related alternatives include "either merely or" and "either simply or", offering nuanced substitutions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either merely or

Replaces "just" with "merely", emphasizing a smaller degree or extent.

either simply or

Replaces "just" with "simply", suggesting a basic or straightforward alternative.

either only or

Substitutes "just" with "only", highlighting exclusiveness or limitation.

either exactly or

Replaces "just" with "exactly", emphasizing precision or accuracy.

either merely but

Changes the conjunction from "or" to "but", indicating a contrast rather than a choice.

either barely or

Replaces "just" with "barely", indicating a minimal degree or margin.

either solely or

Replaces "just" with "solely", stressing uniqueness or singularity.

either hardly or

Replaces "just" with "hardly", suggesting a scarcity or infrequency.

either exclusively or

Replaces "just" with "exclusively", focusing on restriction to a specific option.

either nominally or

Replaces "just" with "nominally", implying something is true in name only.

FAQs

How can I use "either just or" in a sentence?

The phrase "either just or" presents two options, where the first is a less extreme version of the second. For instance, "The project will either just meet the deadline or exceed expectations."

What are some alternatives to "either just or"?

You can use alternatives such as "either merely or", "either simply or", or "either only or" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "either only or" instead of "either just or"?

While "either just or" is grammatically correct, "either only or" can be used, though it slightly changes the emphasis. "Only" highlights the exclusiveness of the options more strongly than "just".

What's the difference between "either just or" and "either exactly or"?

"Either just or" implies a slight difference in degree or extent between two options, while "either exactly or" suggests a difference in precision or accuracy.