just sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

"just sometimes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to emphasize that an event or situation is rarely occurring or that an action or thought is not frequently or habitually occurring. For example: "I just sometimes find myself dreaming about the past, rather than focusing on the present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

And sometimes, just sometimes, she slips as she grasps for the mot juste.

The New York Times

He's just sometimes unsure.

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes, just sometimes, beauty wins.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's just sometimes people are so insistent.

The New York Times

It's just sometimes these things happen.

The Guardian - Arts

They just sometimes take a little finding.

The Guardian

Just sometimes hard to keep track".

The Guardian - Film

"Just sometimes?" "All the time," he says.

The New Yorker

Sometimes, just sometimes, we get our rewards.

The Guardian - Sport

"Not a lot, just sometimes," said Mr. Herzog.

The New York Times

It sounds sort of bossy, but it just sometimes clicks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just sometimes" to soften a statement, indicating that something is not always the case, and avoid absolute terms.

Common error

Avoid using "just sometimes" excessively in your writing, as it can make your text sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "occasionally", "from time to time", or "once in a while" to add nuance and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just sometimes" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the frequency of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a valid and usable expression in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just sometimes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase for indicating infrequent occurrences. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English, particularly to emphasize that an event or situation happens rarely. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media contexts, and has a neutral register. If you want to diversify your writing, you might consider using alternatives like "occasionally" or "from time to time", but be careful to not overuse this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally

Replaces "just sometimes" with a single adverb denoting infrequent occurrence.

now and then

Uses a common idiomatic expression to convey occasional occurrence.

from time to time

Employs a slightly more formal idiom to indicate infrequent occurrence.

once in a while

Uses another common idiom emphasizing the infrequency of an event.

at times

Offers a shorter, more direct way of saying "just sometimes".

on occasion

Replaces "just sometimes" with a more formal phrase.

every so often

Uses a slightly less common idiom for occasional events.

not always

Indicates that something doesn't happen in all cases, implying it happens sometimes.

infrequently

Replaces "just sometimes" with a single adverb indicating a low frequency.

at infrequent intervals

Provides a longer, more descriptive alternative indicating sporadic occurrences.

FAQs

What does "just sometimes" mean?

The phrase "just sometimes" means occasionally or infrequently. It implies that something happens, but not very often.

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

You can use "just sometimes" to indicate that an action or event occurs infrequently. For example: "I "just sometimes" crave sweets after dinner".

What are some alternatives to "just sometimes"?

Alternatives to "just sometimes" include "occasionally", "from time to time", and "once in a while". These phrases all convey the idea of something happening infrequently.

Is it grammatically correct to say "just sometimes"?

Yes, "just sometimes" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English to indicate that something happens occasionally.