# Not just stupid. Just not right. (Bitching about bad syntax.) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978 "2008-01-10T12:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/1 "2008-01-10T12:42:54Z")
(Putting this in the Pit because, well, it’s about grammar and syntax, and you know what that means. Motherfuck!) Who starts these trends? Can we weed them out of the gene pool? For the past couple of years, I’ve been hearing people on the radio – not just halfwit politicians, but journalists, including the supposedly smart people on NPR – use the phrase “just not” when they clearly mean “not just”. This morning, on “Morning Edition”, they were talking about the upcoming primaries in Michigan and South Carolina, and the politically sensitive issues the candidates will have to talk about to win in those states. Somebody said something like, “It’s just not immigration, there are several hot-button issues.” **No.** You didn’t mean what you said. You **meant** “It’s not just immigration.” Motherfuck! There are probably many better examples, but I’m too goshdarned mad right now to think. I could stamp me little foot. Consider these two statements: “She’s just not attractive.” “She’s not just attractive.” Those have completely different meanings. Play back the tape and listen to _what the fuck you said._ Harumph! Motherfuck! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/2 "2008-01-10T17:27:06Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] “She’s just not attractive.” “She’s not just attractive.” [/QUOTE] Does the second one have a phone number? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/3 "2008-01-10T17:56:43Z")
Sure, just not for _you_. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/4 "2008-01-10T18:02:36Z")
That’s OK, I’ll take e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/5 "2008-01-10T18:29:15Z")
Is it too soon to declare this my favorite pit thread of all time? Right from the subject, it was a winner but it was Squink who really settled it. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/6 "2008-01-10T19:27:42Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Sure, just not for _you_. [/QUOTE] Actually, she’s _not just_ for him. I’d like her number, too. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/7 "2008-01-10T20:20:35Z")
It’s going the way of “only”. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/8 "2008-01-10T20:23:50Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] Actually, she’s _not just_ for him. I’d like her number, too. [/QUOTE] That would not be just. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/9 "2008-01-10T20:25:45Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] (Putting this in the Pit because, well, it’s about grammar and syntax, and you know what that means. Motherfuck!) Who starts these trends? Can we weed them out of the gene pool? For the past couple of years, I’ve been hearing people on the radio – not just halfwit politicians, but journalists, including the supposedly smart people on NPR – use the phrase “just not” when they clearly mean “not just”. This morning, on “Morning Edition”, they were talking about the upcoming primaries in Michigan and South Carolina, and the politically sensitive issues the candidates will have to talk about to win in those states. Somebody said something like, “It’s just not immigration, there are several hot-button issues.” **No.** You didn’t mean what you said. You **meant** “It’s not just immigration.” Motherfuck! There are probably many better examples, but I’m too goshdarned mad right now to think. I could stamp me little foot. Consider these two statements: “She’s just not attractive.” “She’s not just attractive.” Those have completely different meanings. Play back the tape and listen to _what the fuck you said._ Harumph! Motherfuck! [/QUOTE] I often hear a similar “can’t just/just can’t” reversal. Drives me batty. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/10 "2008-01-10T20:28:04Z")
I almost title the thread “Just? Not!” On reflection, I’m happy with my choice, and glad that there’s a place like the SDMB, where the standards of civilized, intelligent discourse are upheld. Motherfuck! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/11 "2008-01-10T21:07:56Z")
Are we doing just not, or can we expand this to others that are driving us batty? I’d like to nominate “myself” in place of “me” for this thread. Apparently the dictionaries have been duped far enough to concede “myself” as an acceptable substitute for “me,” but I don’t think I’ll ever stop cringing when I hear someone say, “That’s just not good enough for myself.” Why say a longer word, why type a longer word, when “me” would perfectly convey the meaning you’re after? (I personally consider this one of those _faux_ high-falutin’ things - people try to sound more educated and end up sounding even dumber.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/12 "2008-01-10T21:24:00Z")
I second the nomination of **featherlou**. But if she’s going to utilize “just not” in her methodology, then I remove myself’s nomination. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/13 "2008-01-10T21:28:06Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I don’t think I’ll ever stop cringing when I hear someone say, “That’s just not good enough for myself.” Why say a longer word, why type a longer word, when “me” would perfectly convey the meaning you’re after? (I personally consider this one of those _faux_ high-falutin’ things - people try to sound more educated and end up sounding even dumber.) [/QUOTE] Actually, you’re most liekly to hear it in a compound object, where the person knows better than to say “I”, but has had the ability to say “x and me” (even when it’s appropriate) drummed out of them in grammar school. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/14 "2008-01-10T21:31:30Z")
I believe we could remove the word “just” from spoken language and we’d be (ahem) just fine! ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/15 "2008-01-10T21:37:04Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] (I personally consider this one of those _faux_ high-falutin’ things - people try to sound more educated and end up sounding even dumber.) [/QUOTE] Personally? How does one impersonally consider something oneself? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/16 "2008-01-10T21:40:17Z")
So you’re saying that “not just” is the _mot juste_? ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/17 "2008-01-10T22:46:51Z")
While “just not” and “not just” mean different things, There’s more _to_ it than that – but saying so brings Up a question that withers the brain when discussed: When _is_ “just not” not _just_ not “not just?” It’s not just the just not that has **Baldwin** fussed (It’s the Pit, which explains why he needlessly cussed), At professional speakers he aims his rant’s thrust, They should know better, he types in disgust. But it’s just not the not just-ice that leaves me nonplussed Among the syntactical rules that we bust Are much bigger crimes (well, as big, I trust) Linguistic quirks to which we all should adjust. Just not to say not just won’t leave one’s hair mussed, Not just to say just not, but to erupt with a gust Of words from a grammar that’s gone all to rust Getting along sometimes needs a thick crust. There’s no law I know of that says that we must Satisfy pedants’ grammatical lust And wrap every thought like a prisoner trussed, Gagged with a style-book, and choking on dust. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/18 "2008-01-10T23:27:41Z")
[QUOTE=The King of Soup] While “just not” and “not just” mean different things, There’s more _to_ it than that – but saying so brings Up a question that withers the brain when discussed: When _is_ “just not” not _just_ not “not just?” It’s not just the just not that has **Baldwin** fussed (It’s the Pit, which explains why he needlessly cussed), At professional speakers he aims his rant’s thrust, They should know better, he types in disgust. But it’s just not the not just-ice that leaves me nonplussed Among the syntactical rules that we bust Are much bigger crimes (well, as big, I trust) Linguistic quirks to which we all should adjust. Just not to say not just won’t leave one’s hair mussed, Not just to say just not, but to erupt with a gust Of words from a grammar that’s gone all to rust Getting along sometimes needs a thick crust. There’s no law I know of that says that we must Satisfy pedants’ grammatical lust And wrap every thought like a prisoner trussed, Gagged with a style-book, and choking on dust. [/QUOTE] Holy cow! -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/19 "2008-01-10T23:31:09Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] It’s going the way of “only”. [/QUOTE] Literally! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978/20 "2008-01-10T23:50:36Z")
Personally, it bugs me that NPR talks about Hilary is a “woman candidate” and voters with two XX chromosomes as “women voters.” Female, people! Female is an adjective. Woman is a noun. Would you call Obama a “man candidate?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-just-stupid-just-not-right-bitching-about-bad-syntax/432978.md?page=2)