word, and yet it can undermine you and your work within a split second.
Just is a very versatile word. As an adjective it is widely used to express lawfulness, fairness,
and morality like ‘just society’ or just cause – he just left the house, she just arrived at the
door. As an adverb it has many applications – like she learnt to dance when she was just
three.
- That’s just what I need
- I’ve just seen the local paper
- Just a difficult day in the office
- It’s just after 3 o’clock
The ugly side of just is when used to diminish the importance or difficulty of an activity.
You see, “just” is a tiny, little, insignificant word that implies that whatever you are talking
about is, well, tiny and insignificant. Innocuous. Harmless.
“Just is a word that minimises whatever follows. By adding that one word, you have belittled
your own statement with a subtext that says, “it is not important, it is not that difficult. You
are taking away your own authority and professionalism. You seem almost timid and
submissive to someone else.
I am just a teacher. I am just a nurse…
To avoid the appearance of subordinating yourself, leave ‘just’ out of your sentences. It is
hard to get rid of it, it is ingrained in many people’s vocabularies, akin to ‘like,’ ‘um’ and
‘sorry.’
But the reward of eliminating ‘just’ is great: a clearer, more confident, and active voice.
Do you belittle your job by using the word ‘just’? Stop it. Your work matters.