just a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

"just a minute" is a correct phrase in written English, and is usually used as a request for someone to wait or pause while you quickly do something or think of something.
For example: "Just a minute, let me look up the answer in my notes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pam! Just a minute.

The New Yorker

Hold it just a minute.

The New York Times

JUDGE KLEIN: Just a minute!

The New Yorker

CLINTON: Just a minute.

The Washington Post

BEST: Wait just a minute.

Yale University

'The Court: Just a minute.

Cornell University

"Just a minute, Mister.

The New Yorker

"Er, just a minute.

The Guardian - Music

More on that in just a minute.

The New York Times

Just a minute, Mr. Boies.

The New York Times

"Just a minute," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just a minute" when you need a short pause to gather your thoughts, find information, or complete a quick task. It's suitable for both casual and semi-formal settings.

Common error

While acceptable, relying heavily on "just a minute" in strictly formal environments can sound less professional. Opt for alternatives like "one moment, please" or "allow me a moment" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just a minute" primarily functions as an interjection, used to briefly interrupt or pause a conversation or activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

22%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just a minute" is a very common interjection used to request a short pause or delay, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While generally acceptable in most contexts, it's more suited for neutral to informal settings. For formal situations, alternatives like "one moment, please" are preferable. The phrase appears frequently in news, media, and academic sources, making it a versatile expression in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wait a moment

More formal and polite than "just a minute".

hold on a second

Slightly more casual, emphasizes brevity.

give me a second

Focuses on the speaker's need for time.

one moment, please

Highly formal and courteous.

bear with me

Implies a request for patience during a task.

hang on

Informal and abrupt.

hold your horses

Idiomatic; implies someone is being too hasty.

allow me a moment

Formal; emphasizes granting permission.

let me see

Indicates a pause for thought or consideration.

please wait

Direct and polite request.

FAQs

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

Use "just a minute" when you need someone to pause or wait briefly. For example, you could say, "Just a minute, I need to find my keys."

What's a more formal way to say "just a minute"?

In formal settings, consider using alternatives like "one moment please" or "allow me a moment".

Is it okay to use "just a minute" in a business email?

While generally acceptable, it depends on the context and your relationship with the recipient. For a more professional tone, "please wait a moment" might be better.

What's the difference between "just a minute" and "just a second"?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but "just a second" implies an even shorter delay than "just a minute", although realistically the difference is negligible.