just but

USAGE SUMMARY

No, the phrase "just but" is not correct English and is not used in written English.
If you mean "just yet" then it is correct and can be used to indicate that something has not happened at the present time, but may happen in the future. For example, "I haven't finished packing just yet."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's not just, but it's satisfying.

The New York Times

Perhaps one might - just - but surely not all five.

The Guardian - Books

James Nderitu writes: "Nigerias have just but to win.

The Guardian - Sport

The numbers of tourists for the year was still up, just, but revenues were down.

The Economist

He sees God as just but also notices that he has a wicked sense of humor.

The New York Times

If he plays poorly and they lose, it is just but does not satisfy me as a Yankees fan.

The New York Times - Sports

A ten-year ceasefire is holding, just, but thousands of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops face off across minefields.

The Economist

Trailers, maybe; green rooms, just; but anything riskier than that, uncushioned by retakes, and the heebie-jeebies come to call.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The new constitution remained a showpiece for Saint-Just but little more.

Wikipedia

All of this was drawn in the 3D computer model, and appeared to fit - just - but there's only one way to be sure.

BBC

"Of course, they have got out in recent years - just - but when you play with that fire every year it can be dangerous".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "just but" in formal writing. Instead, choose more grammatically correct alternatives such as "just yet" or rephrase the sentence for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Do not use "just but" when you intend to convey a simple contrast. Replace it with single-word conjunctions like "but", "however", or "although" for clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just but" functions as a conjunction attempting to connect two contrasting elements. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically incorrect. Examples show attempts to use it for contrast, but these are not standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

27%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "just but" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard English. Although found across news, academic, and scientific contexts, authoritative style guides advise against its use. For clearer and more precise communication, alternatives like ""just yet"", or rephrasing the sentence entirely, are recommended to effectively convey the intended contrast or qualification. Its frequent but incorrect usage highlights a common writing error to avoid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just yet

Replaces "but" with "yet" to indicate something hasn't happened but is expected.

only just

Adds "only" to emphasize how recent or narrow something is.

but just

Reverses the order of the words, which might be grammatically correct in specific contexts.

merely but

Substitutes "just" with "merely" to convey something is only a small amount.

simply but

Replaces "just" with "simply" to emphasize straightforwardness.

precisely but

Emphasizes accuracy but introduces a contrast.

exactly but

Highlights exactness while also presenting a contradiction.

fair but

Indicates something is equitable, contrasted with another element.

although

Replaces "just but" with a single conjunction for contrast.

however

Offers a direct contrasting transition instead of the original phrase.

FAQs

Is the phrase "just but" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "just but" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Consider using alternatives like "just yet" or rephrasing the sentence for better clarity.

What can I use instead of "just but" to show contrast?

To show contrast, use single-word conjunctions such as "but", "however", or "although". These provide clearer and more grammatically sound connections between clauses.

When is it appropriate to use "just but"?

While "just but" appears in some written content, it's not considered standard English. It's best to avoid it in formal or academic writing. There are better options.

What's the difference between "just but" and "just yet"?

"Just but" is not a recognized phrase, whereas ""just yet"" indicates something that has not happened at the present time, but may happen in the future.