just about as

USAGE SUMMARY

"just about as" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean "almost" or "nearly" and can be used to compare two things or describe a level of something. Example: "I am just about as tall as my brother, but he is slightly taller than me." In this sentence, "just about as" is used to compare the speaker's height to their brother's and indicates that there is a small difference in their heights. Another example: "She was just about as surprised as I was when the unexpected guest arrived." In this sentence, "just about as" is used to describe the level of surprise the speaker and the other person felt, indicating they were both equally surprised.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Japan is just about as low.

The New York Times - Magazine

Just about as credible as it gets.

The Guardian - Sport

That's just about as high as a compliment can get.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Anglers find them just about as difficult to catch.

The New Yorker

It was just about as awkward as it sounds.

The Guardian - Tech

That's just about as good as was physically possible.

The Guardian - Sport

It's just about as unpleasant as it could be.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This is just about as bad as it gets".

The New York Times

This was just about as good as it gets.

The Guardian - Sport

This is just about as edgy as it gets.

The Guardian - Film

It's as unnatural -- and just about as funny -- as everything else about the show.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just about as" when you want to convey that two things are very similar but not exactly the same. This phrase adds a nuance of approximation to your comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "just about as" excessively in formal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "nearly as" or "almost as".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just about as" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically used to qualify adjectives or adverbs. It indicates a degree of approximation or near equality. Ludwig shows many examples where it modifies comparatives, indicating something is close to being as [adjective] as something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Sport

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Film

5%

Books

3%

Opinion

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just about as" is a common and grammatically sound way to express near equality or similarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in English writing. While it's versatile, its slightly informal tone means it should be used judiciously in highly formal contexts, where options such as "nearly as" or "approximately as" might be more suitable. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to add nuance when drawing comparisons, suggesting likeness without claiming exact identity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as

Slightly more direct, removing the "about" for a more concise comparison.

nearly as

Replaces "just about" with "nearly", maintaining the approximate comparison.

practically as

Substitutes "just about" with "practically", emphasizing the similarity.

virtually as

Replaces "just about" with "virtually", highlighting a near-identical state.

more or less as

Adds a degree of approximation, indicating a slightly less precise comparison.

pretty much as

More informal, replacing "just about" with the colloquial "pretty much".

close to as

Focuses on the proximity of the comparison, indicating a near match.

approximately as

Replaces "just about" with "approximately", offering a more formal tone.

roughly as

Emphasizes the estimation, indicating an imprecise comparison.

tantamount to

Conveys equivalence, implying near identity rather than similarity.

FAQs

How can I use "just about as" in a sentence?

"Just about as" is used to show that two things are nearly equal or similar. For example, "The movie was "just about as good as" the book."

What can I say instead of "just about as"?

Alternatives to "just about as" include "almost as", "nearly as", or "practically as". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of similarity you want to express.

Is it okay to use "just about as" in formal writing?

While "just about as" is grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound informal. In formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "virtually as" or "approximately as".

What's the difference between "just about as" and "exactly as"?

"Just about as" indicates an approximation or near equality, while "exactly as" implies a precise match. For example, "He is "just about as tall as" his father" suggests he's close in height, but "He is exactly as tall as his father" means their heights are identical.