just identifying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just identifying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of recognizing or naming something without further elaboration or action. Example: "In this stage of the project, we are just identifying the key stakeholders involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

It gives you space to think and feel rather than just identifying with the actors".

The New York Times

"We weren't just identifying our voters; we were trying to identify the entire universe," said John Berge, the Obama campaign's Nebraska state director.

The New York Times

But as he inhabited the role, he found himself not just identifying with Connor, but also realizing things about his P.T.S.D.

The New York Times

To reach the new market -- not the rising middle class but the people who would otherwise have been living in private houses -- developers had to revert back to the original way of doing things, just identifying by street address".

The New York Times

While these have at times been vital examinations, he still cannot point to any Nunn-Lugar-Kerry or Goldwater-Nichols-Kerry legislation that comes up with a solution instead of just identifying a foreign policy problem.

The New York Times

If we really want to think about new solutions, it's not just identifying the right people and the right programs; we need to create an environment where these people and solutions are able to thrive.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

You just identified them".

The New Yorker

I just identify with her".

The New York Times

He doesn't just identify defenses, he manipulates them.

The New York Times

"Soon we will be using ultrasound to assess normality, not just identify abnormalities.

The New York Times - Health

Sometimes you just identify with a person, no matter his or her demographic.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just identifying" when you want to emphasize that the action is limited to recognizing or naming something, without further analysis or action. It can be particularly useful in contrasting what is being done with what is not.

Common error

Avoid using "just identifying" when your intent is to convey a thorough analysis or understanding. If the context requires more than mere identification, use phrases that reflect the depth of your investigation, such as "analyzing", "evaluating", or "assessing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just identifying" functions primarily as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe an action that is limited to the act of recognition or naming. Ludwig AI provides several examples where this phrase indicates a boundary or a lack of further elaboration.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just identifying" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase utilized across various contexts to emphasize the limited nature of an action. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's often used to contrast a basic level of recognition with more in-depth analysis. The phrase is considered neutral in register and appears most often in news, scientific, and formal business settings. When writing, ensure that "just identifying" accurately reflects the scope of the action, and avoid using it when a more thorough investigation is implied. Consider alternatives like "merely identifying" or "simply identifying" to fine-tune the conveyed meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely identifying

Replaces "just" with "merely" to emphasize the limited nature of the action.

simply identifying

Uses "simply" instead of "just" to convey ease or lack of complexity.

only identifying

Substitutes "just" with "only" to highlight exclusivity of the action.

purely identifying

Replaces "just" with "purely" suggesting the action is solely identification.

solely identifying

Emphasizes that the action is exclusively focused on identification.

identifying alone

Highlights that there are no other actions beyond identifying.

no more than identifying

Expresses a limit on the action, emphasizing it does not go beyond identifying.

just the identification of

Rephrases the phrase to focus on the noun form of "identification".

at least identifying

Indicates that identification is the minimum action performed.

primarily identifying

Suggests that identifying is the main, but not necessarily the only, activity.

FAQs

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

You can use "just identifying" to indicate that an action is limited to recognizing something without further action. For example, "The first step in solving the problem is "just identifying" the root causes".

What are some alternatives to "just identifying"?

Alternatives include phrases like "merely identifying", "simply identifying", or "only identifying", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "just identifying", or are there situations to avoid it?

Avoid using "just identifying" when you want to express a deeper level of analysis or understanding. In those cases, use phrases like "analyzing", "evaluating", or "assessing".

What's the difference between "just identifying" and "thoroughly analyzing"?

"Just identifying" implies a basic recognition or naming of something, whereas "thoroughly analyzing" suggests a detailed and comprehensive examination. The former is superficial, while the latter is in-depth.