exactly just that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exactly just that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is precisely what was stated or referred to. Example: "When asked what he wanted for dinner, he replied, 'I want exactly just that: a simple salad.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I didn't know where he had moved exactly, just that he lived with his girlfriend and her two kids.

Vice

And the steak tartar wasn't bad, eItherealized

Vice

Ballmer and company are still trying to figure out how to operate in a world that isn't centered around them, and the rise of cloud and mobile is producing just exactly that.

TechCrunch

Tim Blais, a McGill University grad student has released a video that does just exactly that, and features lyrics such as, "The complex scalar.

Huffington Post

"We are busy in Washington with a corrupt government, with a government that I said more than a year ago was perhaps -- because of the money, because of the amount of TARP and stimulus funds -- was going to be the most corrupt government in history, and it is proving to be that, just exactly that," Issa said in a Bloomberg television interview.

Huffington Post

Well, I get -- you know, the reason it was scathing, Bob, is because of the just exactly that --the fact that we have a president who is not able to set conditions and to actually have the kind of influence over the Iraqi government.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Luckily, Facebook and Burson-Marsteller have just handed exactly that to us on a silver platter.

TechCrunch

I just thought exactly that -- this is a guy drowning, and you're gonna see this guy splash around.

Huffington Post

But I'll be damned if I can tell you just what exactly that theory is.

Biology Direct

Yes, Mr. Williams, exactly, that is just the strength she was booked on, the strength to polarize after just a short period of time.

The New York Times - Arts

We're looking at ways of doing exactly that, not just relying on the federal government but looking at our relationships with individuals to help us get together the funding to work in places deep inside the ocean, or to do projects which are scientifically risky, for which we normally could not get federal funding.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: While grammatically correct, "exactly just that" can sometimes sound redundant. Ensure it adds value by providing emphasis or clarity that "exactly that" alone wouldn't achieve.

Common error

Avoid using "exactly just that" excessively, as it can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. If the emphasis is already clear from the context, opt for a simpler phrase like "exactly that" or "precisely that" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly just that" functions as an intensifier, emphasizing agreement or precise specification. As indicated by Ludwig, it adds emphasis to a previously mentioned point, confirming it with exactness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exactly just that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to add emphasis and clarity, predominantly found in news and media and scientific contexts. As Ludwig's AI confirms, the phrase emphasizes the previous point. While ""exactly that"" or ""precisely that"" serve as alternatives, "exactly just that" offers a stronger affirmation. Be mindful of potential redundancy and reserve it for situations where heightened emphasis is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

precisely that

Direct synonym, replacing "exactly just" with "precisely" for conciseness.

exactly that

Omits "just" for a slightly more formal tone, maintaining the core meaning.

just that

Removes "exactly" for a less forceful emphasis, focusing on the 'that' element.

that is exactly it

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the agreement or confirmation aspect.

that's exactly right

Substitutes "that" with "that's", for a more conversational tone, and replacing "it" with "right" for emphasis.

that's precisely what I mean

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the speaker's intention or meaning.

that's the long and short of it

Uses an idiom to convey a concise summary of the situation.

in a nutshell, that's it

Introduces the phrase as a summary, providing a clear conclusion.

to put it simply, that's the case

Clarifies the statement by presenting it in a simpler, more understandable manner.

the gist of it is that

Focuses on conveying the main idea or essence of the matter.

FAQs

How can I use "exactly just that" in a sentence?

Use "exactly just that" to emphasize something you've already mentioned or agreed upon. For example, "I want a simple salad, and I want "exactly just that": nothing more, nothing less."

Is there a more concise way to say "exactly just that"?

Yes, you can often replace "exactly just that" with "exactly that" or "precisely that" without losing the intended meaning. The added 'just' often serves for emphasis.

What's the difference between "exactly that" and "exactly just that"?

The difference is subtle. "Exactly that" is a direct confirmation. Adding "just" before "that" amplifies the emphasis, indicating a strong agreement or a precise match to what was previously stated. For example, "Is this what you wanted? Exactly that!" vs. "Is this what you wanted? Exactly just that!" signals stronger emphasis.

When might it be better to use "exactly that" instead of "exactly just that"?

In formal writing or situations where conciseness is key, "exactly that" is often preferable. "Exactly just that" is more suitable in informal contexts or when you want to add extra emphasis to your agreement.