Difference Between Just And Only

Difference between “just” and “only”

Just

The word “just” has several possible definitions:

1) Recently

Be careful – I just washed the floor, and it’s still wet.(= I washed the floor a few minutes ago)

He just finished a big project.(= he finished the project very recently)

2) Only

I have just one brother. (= I have only one brother)

I thought you were hungry, but you ate just half of your sandwich.(= you ate only half of your sandwich, and no more)

Only

The word “only” can be replaced with “just” in most situations:

Only two students came to class on the day before Christmas.= Just two students came to class on the day before Christmas.

My kids only use the internet for schoolwork, not for playing games.= My kids just use the internet for schoolwork, not for playing games.

In the expression “If only…” you can use “just” if you change the structure a little bit:

If only I had studied harder. I would’ve passed the test.= If I had just studied harder, I would’ve passed the test.

 “Only” and “just” are interchangeable with definition 2 of “just,” but not with definition 1.

Definition 2 – Same meaningWe have just one daughter. = We have only one daughter.

Definition 1 – Different meaningsI just washed the floor (a few minutes ago)I only washed the floor (and I didn’t wash the table)

However, it also depends on the context:

“Did you clean the whole house?”“No, I just washed the floor” (= I only washed the floor).

“Why is the floor wet?”“Because I just washed it”(= I recently washed it. In this case, you can’t use “only”)

Word order

When you use “just,” the word order matters:

I just ate two pieces of pizza. ( = I recently ate two pieces of pizza)

I ate just two pieces of pizza ( = I ate only two pieces, not 3 or 4 or 5)

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