this was just

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was just" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was merely a specific thing or situation, often implying that it was not more than that. Example: "I thought the meeting would be more productive, but this was just a waste of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was just Lagos.

The New Yorker

This was just a vendetta".

The New York Times

"This was just plain sad.

The New Yorker

This was just not on".

The New Yorker

"This was just the start".

The New York Times

This was just racist garbage".

The Economist

"This was just horrific.

The New York Times

This was just silly.

The Guardian - Sport

This was just commonplace.

The Guardian

"This was just vile.

The New York Times

This was just fine.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this was just" to downplay the significance of an event or situation, indicating it was not exceptional or extraordinary. For example, "This was just a minor setback, we can recover quickly."

Common error

Avoid using "this was just" excessively, especially when addressing serious issues. Overuse can diminish the perceived importance of the topic and make you sound dismissive or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was just" primarily functions as a qualifier or downplayer. It is used to minimize the perceived significance of an event, action, or situation. Ludwig AI shows how it indicates something is not exceptional, complex, or important.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this was just" serves as a qualifier used to minimize the importance of an event or situation, often to reassure or manage expectations. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and usability, as well as suggesting the possibility of using alternatives like "this simply was" or "it was only". While commonly used in news and media, one should be mindful of the context to avoid sounding dismissive when addressing serious matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this simply was

Emphasizes the straightforward nature of the situation, replacing "just" with "simply" to highlight the lack of complexity.

this merely was

Replaces "just" with "merely", suggesting that something was only what it appears to be and nothing more.

this happened to be

Focuses on the incidental nature of the situation, using "happened to be" to indicate a lack of intent or planning.

this turned out to be

Highlights the result of the situation, using "turned out to be" to emphasize the outcome or realization.

it was only

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the limiting aspect of the situation. Instead of using "this" as the main subject, it uses "it".

it was nothing more than

Expresses that what happened was not important or significant.

this proved to be

Highlights the evidence or manifestation of the situation, using "proved to be" to suggest validation.

this boiled down to

Conveys the essence of a situation, using "boiled down to" to indicate a reduction to the most fundamental aspect.

this ended up as

Describes the final state of a situation, employing "ended up as" to stress the conclusion or resolution.

it was fundamentally

Highlights the base meaning and the true aspect of something.

FAQs

What does "this was just" mean?

The phrase "this was just" indicates that something was merely a specific thing or event, implying it was not more significant or complex than it appeared.

How can I use "this was just" in a sentence?

You can use "this was just" to downplay an event. For example: "I know you wanted to win, but "this was just" a practice run."

What can I say instead of "this was just"?

You can use alternatives like "this simply was", "this merely was", or "it was only" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "this was just"?

It's appropriate to use "this was just" when you want to minimize the importance of something or clarify that an event was not particularly special or significant.