by means of, means
In most sentences, it is clearer and simpler to use the prepositions by or through instead of by means of.
- Mr. Dickens entered the house by (not by means of) the rear door.
- The demographic data were gathered by means of (or through) a survey.
When the emphasis is on the process or tools used, the phrase by means of may be preferable.
- By means of bribery and threats, the reporters finally entered the embassy.
Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Search by related themes
Want to learn more about a theme discussed on this page? Click on a link below to see all the pages on the Language Portal of Canada that relate to the theme you selected. The search results will be displayed in Language Navigator.
- Date modified: