Is it okay to use "not just", or "not a simple" instead of "no mere"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Yes, you can replace "no mere" with "not just" or "no simple/not simply a" without changing the meaning of the sentence. They all have roughly the same meaning, although "not just" is most casual in feeling. "No simple" is more close in feeling to "no mere" than "not just." Ex: He is no mere ranger. Ex: He is no simple ranger. Ex: He is not simply a ranger. Ex: He is not just a ranger.