Just don't say "just"

The word “just” is a particularly insidious piece of vocabulary.

Since this entire post is about one word, I thought I’d look up the actual definition.

just

adjective

1. a. having a basis in or conforming to fact or reason : reasonable > had just reason to believe he was in danger

b. conforming to a standard of correctness : proper > just proportions

c. archaic : faithful to an original

2. a. 1. acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good : righteous > a just war 2. being what is merited : deserved > a just punishment

b. legally correct : lawful > just title to an estate

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adverb

1. a. exactly, precisely > just right

b. very recently > the bell just rang

2. a. by a very small margin : barely > just too late

b. immediately, directly > just west of here

3. a. only, simply > just last year

  > *just be yourself*

There it is.

Today I am specifically talking about just, adverb, 3a, the second half..

simply

When you say Just rewrite it in Rust you are saying Simply rewrite it in Rust.

When you say Why don't we just (very large or complicated undertaking of your choice)? you are really saying Why don't we simply (very large or complicated undertaking of your choice)?

I think it should be fairly obvious that any very large or complicated undertaking is not, by definition, simple.

This applies even to things that are not very large or complicated undertakings.

Why don’t you just get a job?

You should just break up with them.

These things are more mundane but, I think, still obviously not simple by even the loosest definition of that word.

By using the word just you are, more often than not, consciously or not, attempting to trivialize and downplay the reality of what is being discussed.

I have personally been working hard on expunging this particular word from my vernacular, and I encourage others to just do the same.

That’s it. That’s the post.