Stop saying "just" (2019)

Perceived Problems with “Just”

• Many see “just” as minimizing complexity and effort, especially in engineering: “just add a DNS record,” “it’s just a one-line change,” “just call the API.”
• It’s linked to underestimating work and missing hidden context or dependencies; several note that whenever they hear “can’t you just…”, the real answer is usually “no.”
• In documentation, tutorials, and teaching, “just” and “simply” can make learners feel stupid when something isn’t easy for them.
• Related words (“simply,” “basically,” “only,” “obviously,” “should”) are criticized for similar reasons.

Arguments for Using “Just”

• Some defend the word as a precise qualifier: it signals that a suggested solution is intended as simpler/cheaper than another, or that one reason is more important than others.
• Others argue that banning a common word is nitpicky; the real issue is snarky or oblivious intent, not vocabulary.
• In questions (“can we just do X?”), “just” can mark that the speaker expects to be corrected and wants to understand why something isn’t simple.
• Some teams intentionally retain “just” as an in-joke or as a tool to surface assumptions and get them challenged.

Workplace Communication and Dynamics

• Several report frustration when non-technical stakeholders “just” away difficult work; a suggested tactic is to convert “just” requests into explicit change orders with time/cost.
• There are anecdotes of “just” being treated as a “swear jar” word in teams to highlight hidden complexity.
• One comment notes that femme-presenting people who stop softening language with “just” risk being labeled “aggressive.”

Language, Politeness, and Culture

• Some see adapting language (dropping “just,” avoiding certain terms, changing defaults like “master”) as easy courtesy that improves communication.
• Others worry about “newspeak”-style erosion of language and resist avoiding words solely because some people infer bad intent.
• Several participants conclude that awareness is the key: understand how “just” lands with different audiences and use or avoid it deliberately rather than by habit.

Broader “If Everyone Would Just…” Tangents

• A related critique targets phrases like “if everyone would just…,” arguing they ignore real-world incentives and obstacles.
• Counterpoints note that norms such as tooth-brushing and hand-washing did become widespread, suggesting “everyone” can change over time, though not effortlessly.