just at the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just at the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two events or actions are occurring simultaneously or in close succession. Example: "I was cooking dinner, and just at the same time, my friend called to chat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

And it was his brother who rescued him on Wednesday, responding to a text and arriving just at the same time.

The Guardian

Now it was all about the new kids on the block, just at the same time as the pop group of the same name.

The Guardian - Sport

It looks to be quite on the cards that Mario Draghi will try to pump things up just at the same time as Janet Yellen starts to try to damp things down.

Independent

I suspect it's a matter of poor timing, technologically: the ability to print a whole physical book cheaply but at a decent quality has become available to everyone just at the same time as ebooks have started wreaking havoc with the market.

The New York Times

There's one brilliant bit which resonated massively for me, where she says one of the deep, troublesome things about being a woman is that your creative fertility starts peaking in your mid-thirties, where people start taking you seriously as a writer or an actress or whatever, when just at the same time your fertility goes the other way.

Independent

Update: A reader sent me a picture of how this story posted in his twitter feed, ironically just at the same time as a tweet from Lord Sugar himself.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Multiple sinks do not move just exactly at the same time since at least one of the sinks must stay to gather the sensor nodes' data.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

And yes, it's just basketball, but at the same time, it's just basketball!

The New York Times

At just about the same time, over at Republican central -- the Polish Community Center in Yonkers -- Ms. Doherty vowed that she was not conceding defeat.

The New York Times

Schoenberg can be heard in his Second String Quartet writing not just music but, at the same time, music history.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's just different, but at the same time, I focus myself into my career here," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When illustrating complex situations, interweave the phrase "just at the same time" to create a sense of immediacy or surprise when describing events that happen together unexpectedly.

Common error

While "just at the same time" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "simultaneously" or "concurrently" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just at the same time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when an action occurs. It indicates simultaneity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and emphasizes the timing of events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just at the same time" is a grammatically sound and understandable prepositional phrase that indicates simultaneity of events. As Ludwig AI states, it is a usable phrase. While "just at the same time" appears most often in News & Media, its usage extends to Scientific writing. However, as writing guidance suggests, avoid relying too heavily on this phrase in formal writing, instead using "simultaneously". As a final thought, remember that overuse in formal contexts could reduce clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneously

A more formal and concise way to express that two things happen at the same time.

at the very moment

Emphasizes the exact coincidence in time.

concurrently

Suggests that events happen alongside each other within the same period.

in unison

Implies that events occur together and in a coordinated way.

coincidentally

Highlights the chance nature of events happening together.

at once

A simpler, more direct way of saying at the same time.

at the selfsame time

An older, more emphatic synonym for "at the same time".

in sync

Suggests events are happening together in a harmonious or synchronized manner.

at the same instant

Stresses the immediacy and simultaneity of the events.

synchronously

A technical term for processes happening at the same rate or interval.

FAQs

What does "just at the same time" mean?

The phrase "just at the same time" indicates that two or more events occur simultaneously or very close together in time.

Are there more formal alternatives to "just at the same time"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you could use "simultaneously", "concurrently", or "at the same instant".

How can I use "just at the same time" in a sentence?

You can use it to connect two events: "I finished my work, and, just at the same time, the phone rang."

Is it better to use "at the same time" or "just at the same time"?

Both are correct, but "just at the same time" emphasizes the immediacy and coincidence of the events. "At the same time" is more neutral.