just past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just past" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence, "He stumbled just past the entrance to the theater."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The trees are the ghosts of Christmas just past.

The New York Times

It was just past 2 A.M., in May , 2008

The New Yorker

It was just past midnight.

The New York Times

Just past St.

The New York Times - Travel

This year just past, we were awash.

The New Yorker

Writer reflects on the election just past.

The New Yorker

It was just past 11 o'clock.

The New York Times

(He died just past his hundredth birthday).

The New Yorker

Mr. Kucinich conceded just past midnight Wednesday.

The New York Times

It is just past midnight.

The New Yorker

He called just past 1 p.m.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just past" to indicate a position, time, or stage that has been slightly exceeded or recently passed. It provides a sense of immediacy and close proximity to the reference point.

Common error

Avoid using "just past" when describing distances or times that are significantly beyond the reference point. "Just past" implies a small margin, not a large gap. For significant distances or times, use alternatives like "far beyond" or "long after."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just past" primarily functions as a prepositional modifier, indicating a position or time that is slightly beyond a specific reference point. This is supported by Ludwig, which showcases its use in various contexts like spatial location and temporal indication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just past" is a versatile prepositional modifier used to indicate that something is slightly beyond a specific point in either space or time. Ludwig highlights its frequent use in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, as supported by Ludwig, it's essential to use "just past" appropriately, avoiding its application to situations involving significant distances or timeframes. Alternatives like "slightly beyond" or "immediately after" may be more suitable in such cases. It has a neutral register, making it adaptable for a broad array of writing and conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just beyond

Indicates spatial location immediately exceeding a point.

directly beyond

Emphasizes that something is located immediately after a specific point.

slightly beyond

Indicates a marginal surpassing of a limit or location.

immediately after

Emphasizes temporal succession with minimal delay.

right after

Indicates direct succession without any intervening time.

a little further than

Focuses on spatial distance and proximity.

shortly after

Highlights temporal proximity with a short interval.

a moment after

Specifies a very brief period of time following an event.

slightly over

Indicates that something exceeded slightly a certain amount.

close to after

Conveys close proximity in time to a subsequent event.

FAQs

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

The phrase "just past" is typically used to indicate a position or time slightly beyond a specific point. For example, "The store is "just past" the traffic light" or "It was "just past" midnight when I got home."

What are some alternatives to using "just past"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "slightly beyond", "immediately after", or "a little further than".

Is it correct to say "just passed" instead of "just past"?

While "just passed" can sometimes be used, "just past" is generally preferred when referring to a location or time. "Just passed" is more commonly used to describe an action that has recently occurred.

What's the difference between "just past" and "right after"?

"Just past" indicates a point slightly beyond a reference, while "right after" specifies immediacy following something. "Just past the store" implies a short distance, whereas "right after the show" indicates no time elapsed.