just solely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just solely" is not considered correct in standard written English as it is redundant.
You can use it when you want to emphasize exclusivity, but it is better to choose one of the two words. Example: "I want to focus just solely on my studies this semester."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"It's not just solely around the World Cup," added the former England coach.

BBC

"Them standing there isn't just solely affecting people going in for abortions," Megan added.

BBC

"A lot of them have served us well, but it's just solely so that we can re-shape the squad," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

BBC

You'll be amazed at how much more productive your staff will be once they understand you're committed to helping them reach career goals and not just solely focused on achieving your business objectives.

Forbes

A culture that has its roots in free thinking about what the world can be is not something that is just solely the enjoyment of tight community in California.

TechCrunch

"Just like us they're not just solely in the project space, the majority of their customers are recurring customers, they're subscription customers, so from a financial perspective it was a very healthy company".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

My concern is neither the divine nor the human, not the true, good, just, free, etc., but solely what is mine, and it is not a general one, but is - unique, as I am unique.

Huffington Post

"Coach [John Tillman] has done a great job of talking to us about trying to make our world smaller and just focusing solely on the game, focusing solely on our opponent and not trying to make it bigger than it is," he said.

Los Angeles Times

In many situations, the midwives felt insufficient and on their own in the organization and as just being solely workers, burdened and without support, only doing what they were expected to do.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The Supreme Court found that economic development under the city's plan would not violate the Fifth Amendment (which prohibits the taking of private property for public use "without just compensation") solely because there was some private gain.

The New York Times

Yet now a supposedly five-year parliament will have lasted for just two, solely because Mrs May thinks this is a good time to crush Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid redundancy, choose either "just" or "solely" based on the specific emphasis you want to convey. Using both together is generally grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using both "just" and "solely" together in an attempt to strongly emphasize a single aspect. This redundancy weakens the writing. Instead, select the single word that best fits the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just solely" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to emphasize the exclusiveness or uniqueness of an action or state. However, due to its redundant nature, as Ludwig AI reports, it's grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "just solely" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. Both "just" and "solely" convey a sense of exclusivity, so using them together is unnecessary. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's better to choose either "just" or "solely", or opt for synonyms like "only" or "exclusively", to avoid weakening your writing. While understandable in intent, the phrase should be avoided in favor of clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only

Replaces both "just" and "solely" with a single word that conveys the meaning of exclusivity.

solely

Uses "solely" alone, removing "just" to avoid redundancy.

exclusively

Highlights that something is restricted to a particular person, group, or area.

purely

Indicates that something is done entirely and without any other influences.

simply

Emphasizes straightforwardness and exclusiveness, a slight semantic shift.

entirely

Emphasizes the completeness of something, suggesting it is whole and not divided.

completely

Similar to "entirely", stressing the full extent of something.

merely

Indicates that something is only what it is said to be, nothing more.

strictly

Emphasizes adherence to specific conditions or limitations.

uniquely

Highlights the distinctiveness and singularity of something.

FAQs

Why is "just solely" considered redundant?

Both "just" and "solely" convey the meaning of "only" or "exclusively". Using them together doesn't add emphasis but creates unnecessary repetition. It's better to choose one based on the context.

What can I say instead of "just solely"?

You can use alternatives like "only", "solely", or "exclusively" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to use "just solely"?

While some sources use "just solely", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. In most cases, choosing either "just" or "solely" will suffice.

How does the choice between "just" and "solely" affect the meaning of a sentence?

The choice can subtly shift the emphasis. "Just" often implies a limitation or simplification, while "solely" emphasizes the exclusivity of something. Consider the nuance you want to convey.