Just Because

I think I’ve just noticed a bad writing habit I’ve developed. I tend to use the work "just" quite a bit (as seen in the previous sentence). I honestly don’t even know what it means exactly. It’s so embedded in my speech; I just can’t seem to stop using it. See I just did it again. ... Damn it!

Let me see if Dictonary.com has a definition of "just"

adverb.

1. Precisely; exactly: just enough salt.
2. Only a moment ago: He just arrived.
3. By a narrow margin; barely: just missed being hit; just caught the bus before it pulled away.
4. At a little distance: just down the road.
5. Merely; only: just a scratch.
6. Simply; certainly: It's just beautiful!
7. Perhaps; possibly: I just may go.

So it looks like "just" is a valid word and I am using it correctly. However I’m still not sure it’s good to just keep using it over and over like I do. (See I did it again.)

It definitely makes a difference when you use it though. Here are three sentences that say the same thing only with the one change.

"He just did it because it was a just cause."
"He only did it because it was a just cause."
"He did it because it was a just cause."

Now I read these as a flippant remark, a plea and a statement.

What do you think?

#writting