it just contained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it just contained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the contents of something, indicating that it held or included specific items or information. Example: "The box was opened, and it just contained a few old photographs and letters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

What made this episode great was the fact that it just contained so much story.

Huffington Post

The Huffington Post's Jay Glatfelter decided that "what made this episode great was the fact that it just contained so much story [with] Jack's flashforward [making] this one of his most interesting 'centric' episodes.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Rhinehart is reluctant to associate Soylent with any flavor, so for now it just contains a small amount of sucralose, to mask the taste of the vitamins.

The New Yorker

It's not poisonous, it just contains the biological code to make the bad stuff.

BBC

This has the awkward result that the original theory T is not ontologically committed to males if it just contains '∃x Bachelor(x)', or to animals if it just contains '∃x Elephant(x)'; only T with the postulates added is so committed.

SEP

I haven't read it, though I assume it just contains a list of the trunk dimensions in every car manufactured since 1974. .

Vice

While complicated programs would include numerous functions, this is the simplest program possible and your first program ever so it just contains the main function.

WikiHow

The article attributed to one plaintiff, Judge Darlene Whitten of Denton County Court, who was the judge in the actual incident, the quotation, "Any implication of violence in a school situation, even if it was just contained in a first-grader's book report, is reason enough for panic and overreaction".

The New York Times

So, if Trait A has been around for a longer time that means it has more time to spread throughout all different types of trees of animals and organisms, whereas Trait B hasn't been around for that many years, so it maybe is just contained within one species and it not able to spread out beyond that".

CBE Life Sciences Education

Yet it is not to blame for America's health mess, and it could just contain the beginnings of a partial solution to it.

The Economist

The administration made an unrealistic assumption that North Korea would go away if the United States just contained it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it just contained" to clearly and concisely specify the limited contents of something, avoiding ambiguity. It is best when you want to emphasize that there was nothing else in the thing you are describing.

Common error

Avoid using "just" excessively in writing. While "it just contained" is grammatically correct, overuse of "just" can weaken your prose. Consider stronger, more descriptive alternatives when appropriate to avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it just contained" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence. It is used to specify the contents of something, emphasizing that the contents were limited or exclusive. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it just contained" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the limited or exclusive contents of something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While not highly frequent, it is found in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Wiki sources. When writing, consider whether a more descriptive or precise alternative might be more appropriate for formal settings. However, for general communication, it effectively conveys the idea of limited contents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it merely included

Replaces "just contained" with "merely included", emphasizing the limited nature of the contents.

it exclusively held

Replaces "just contained" with "exclusively held", highlighting that nothing else was present.

it solely comprised

Uses "solely comprised" to convey that the contents were restricted to specific items.

it only consisted of

Employs "only consisted of" to indicate a limited composition.

it simply had

Substitutes "just contained" with "simply had", suggesting a lack of complexity in the contents.

its contents were limited to

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the limitation of the contents.

it did not include anything more than

Expresses the limitation by stating what was not included.

it was restricted to

Highlights the restriction on the contents.

its sole components were

Focuses on the individual components and their exclusivity.

it encompassed nothing but

Emphasizes that nothing else was encompassed besides the stated contents.

FAQs

What does "it just contained" mean?

The phrase "it just contained" means that something held or included only specific items or information, and nothing more. It emphasizes the limited contents of what is being described.

What can I say instead of "it just contained"?

You can use alternatives like "it merely included", "it exclusively held", or "it only consisted of" depending on the context.

Is "it just contained" formal or informal?

The phrase "it just contained" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, more precise or sophisticated vocabulary might be preferred.

How can I use "it just contained" in a sentence?

You can use "it just contained" to describe the limited contents of a box, a file, or any container of information or items. For example, "The package was surprisingly light; it just contained a single sheet of paper."