just as easily

USAGE SUMMARY

"just as easily" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It's often used to indicate that something can be done without much difficulty or effort. For example, "I could make dinner just as easily as I could order takeout."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But they could just as easily lose.

The New Yorker

Would I lose interest just as easily?

Independent

Or, just as easily, undiscovered treasure.

The New York Times

and nativists can just as easily use the Internet.

Harvard University

They could just as easily be up 3-0".

The New York Times - Sports

They can be dealt with just as easily.

Independent

Plans are easily made, but just as easily forsaken.

The New York Times

We could have just as easily become The Big Persimmon.

The New York Times

But it could just as easily be about Bernard Lagat.

The New Yorker

He could just as easily end up back there tomorrow.

The New York Times

He could just as easily have been talking about himself.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just as easily" to clearly convey that an alternative action or outcome is equally possible or simple. This helps to provide balance and perspective in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "just as easily" in contexts where the ease or likelihood is already implied. Redundancy can weaken your writing; ensure its inclusion adds meaningful emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just as easily" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the manner in which something can occur. It emphasizes that an alternative action or outcome is achievable with equal ease or likelihood. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just as easily" functions as an adverbial phrase used to indicate that something can be achieved or occur with equal ease or likelihood compared to something else. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy and overuse, and Ludwig's examples help illustrate its diverse applications. Consider alternatives like "with equal ease" or "just as readily" to add variety to your writing. It is worth noting that "just as easily" is used to make comparison between two things that could happen in a similar way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with equal ease

Emphasizes the equivalent level of facility.

just as readily

Focuses on the willingness or readiness with which something can happen.

in like manner

Highlights the similarity in the way something is done.

by the same token

Indicates a parallel or analogous situation.

on equal footing

Suggests a level playing field or equivalent conditions.

with similar facility

Emphasizes a comparable level of skill or aptitude.

no less easily

Highlights that something is not more difficult.

just the same way

Emphasizes that the process or method is identical.

to the same degree

Highlights that the intensity or extent is equivalent.

as simply

Focuses on the straightforward nature of the action.

FAQs

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

You can use "just as easily" to indicate that an alternative action or outcome is equally possible or simple, for example: "He could have won, but he could "just as easily" have lost".

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

You can use alternatives like "with equal ease", "just as readily", or "in like manner", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "just as easy" instead of "just as easily"?

While "just as easy" is grammatically correct, it functions differently. "Just as easy" describes a quality, while "just as easily" describes how an action is performed. For example, "Solving this problem is just as easy as solving that one" versus "He could fail "just as easily" as he could succeed".

What's the difference between "just as easily" and "easily"?

"Easily" simply means without difficulty. "Just as easily" implies a comparison, indicating that something else is also easy or likely. For instance, "He passed the test easily" versus "He could fail "just as easily" as he could pass it".