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I have found both on the Internet. Which one is correct? If both are, what's the difference between the two?

papillon
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  • You should include the examples that you found on the Internet for context. Either could be the correct choice depending on what the sentence is trying to convey. – KillingTime Feb 05 '21 at 09:15
  • Not sure why I should add an example. I am asking for general rules, not for a correction of 1 specific sentence. What does "just waiting for" and "waiting just for" mean, are both correct, where to use them? – papillon Feb 05 '21 at 09:20
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    Just waiting - talks about waiting; ...just for - talks about the reason. In other words, what immediately follows 'just' gets the influence of it. – Ram Pillai Feb 05 '21 at 09:23
  • You should add an example because the appropriateness of one form or the other may depend on the context! – Kate Bunting Feb 05 '21 at 09:23
  • @KateBunting Are you saying that there are no general rules? – papillon Feb 05 '21 at 09:25
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    Often, we say "I am just waiting for something" to mean that is all I am doing, and not anything else, whereas "I am waiting just for something" generally means I am waiting only for that thing. – Michael Harvey Feb 05 '21 at 09:44
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  • A policeman asks me why I am standing around. I can say "I'm just waiting for a bus" (and not e.g. loitering with intent to rob). 2. At a party someone says "I hope plenty of people come", and I might say "I'm waiting just for Mary to arrive" (I don't care who else comes).
    • – Michael Harvey Feb 05 '21 at 09:47
  • Does this answer your question? Position of the word ‘just’ – Edwin Ashworth Feb 05 '21 at 15:39
  • @EdwinAshworth no, unfortunately it's actually a different usage of "just", that does not correspond to my question. thanks for the suggestion. – papillon Feb 08 '21 at 17:08
  • I think @MichaelHarvey 's comments is the answer I need – papillon Feb 08 '21 at 17:10
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    "I am just waiting for Mary" is often used with the sense "I am waiting for Mary and nobody else" too. And, confusingly, with the implication "I'm waiting for Mary; don't worry about me getting cold or anything ... I'll be along/going home soon." // Context and intonation are very important when decoding how these limiting modifiers (even, just, only, merely, almost, hardly, simply, alone, also ...) are being used. – Edwin Ashworth Feb 08 '21 at 17:18