It is just as well

Question

It is just as well that you didn't go hiking with us. The weather was terrible.It is lucky that you ...Luckily, you ...Do all the above versions convey the same idea? Thanks.

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi Angliholic

Yes, they're all the same idea.

Angliholic · Answer

YankeeHi Angliholic

Yes, they're all the same idea.

Thanks, Amy.

For the sake of using it right, I'll make a few more sentences in the following. Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

It's just as well that I didn't sign up for the trip because it'll rain tomorrow.

It was just as well that I drove my car home because it rained cats and dogs on my way home.

It was just as well that we were out in the open air when the violent earhtquake struck Formosa.

Yankee · Answer

AngliholicFor the sake of using it right, I'll make a few more sentences in the following. Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

It's just as well that I didn't sign up for the trip, because ~~it'll~~ it's going to/it's supposed to rain tomorrow.

It was just as well that I drove ~~my car~~ home, because it rained cats and dogs on my way ~~home~~.

It was ~~just as well~~ fortunate that we were out in the open ~~air~~ when the violent earhtquake struck Formosa.

Hi Angliholic
I've added some commas and suggested a few changes. I'd prefer a word such as 'fortunate' in your last sentence.

Angliholic · Answer

Yankee
AngliholicFor the sake of using it right, I'll make a few more sentences in the following. Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

It's just as well that I didn't sign up for the trip, because ~~it'll~~ it's going to/it's supposed to rain tomorrow.

It was just as well that I drove ~~my car~~ home, because it rained cats and dogs on my way ~~home~~.

It was ~~just as well~~ fortunate that we were out in the open ~~air~~ when the violent earhtquake struck Formosa.

Hi Angliholic
I've added some commas and suggested a few changes. I'd prefer a word such as 'fortunate' in your last sentence.

Thanks, Amy, for the correction.

By the way, is there something wrong with "just as well" in the last sample? For me, fortunate, lucky, and just as well are synonymous, so I can't figure out why you prefer "fortunate" in that context. Is there a specific reason?

Yankee · Answer

Hi Angliholic

I guess I would explain it this way:
'Just as well' means lucky in the sense of 'preferable' and 'preferable' suggests a choice. To me your last sentence doesn't contain any feeling of choice but rather pure coincidence.

Angliholic · Answer

YankeeHi Angliholic

I guess I would explain it this way:
'Just as well' means lucky in the sense of 'preferable' and 'preferable' suggests a choice. To me your last sentence doesn't contain any feeling of choice but rather pure coincidence.

Thanks, Amy.

I know the reason why you prefer fortunate, but I presume there is indeed a feeling of choice in my last sample. See the following.

It was just as well that we were out in the open (as opposed to inside a building) when the violent earhtquake struck Formosa.

Yankee · Answer

I see your point, but "be out in the open" is not as obviously a specific, two-options-only choice. In other words, what exactly was the alternative choice for "be out in the open"? Was it "be inside in a doorway" or "be inside a room" or "be outside directly next to a building" or "be outside under a tree" (etc.)?

That's my take.

It is just as well

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