By all means

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "By all means" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to give permission or to encourage someone to proceed with something. Example: "If you want to borrow my book, by all means, take it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By all means.

The New York Times

By all means, protest.

The New York Times

"By all means," he said.

The New Yorker

By all means, finish it.

The New Yorker

By all means innovate.

The Guardian - Sport

By all means, investigate recent vintages.

The New York Times - Food

By all means, see the bio-pic.

The New Yorker

By all means, some standard is needed.

The New York Times

By all means, address the messaging problem.

The New York Times

"By all means, read it through".

The New Yorker

By all means, do your own thing!

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "By all means" to enthusiastically grant permission or express strong agreement, adding emphasis to your affirmative response.

Common error

While "By all means" is widely acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing where a simpler "Certainly" or "Absolutely" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "By all means" functions as an emphatic affirmative response, typically used to grant permission or express strong agreement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "By all means" is a widely used phrase to express emphatic agreement or grant enthusiastic permission. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in news and media, and can be employed in diverse contexts. While versatile, it's best to consider your audience when choosing it for more formal communications, as a simpler alternative might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Certainly

This alternative conveys strong agreement or affirmation, similar to "By all means", but is less emphatic and more straightforward.

Absolutely

Similar to "Certainly", this alternative affirms without the added emphasis of permission or encouragement.

Of course

Implies that something is obvious or expected, while "By all means" suggests enthusiastic consent.

Definitely

Like "Certainly" and "Absolutely", this implies strong agreement, but lacks the nuance of granting permission.

Sure

A more casual way of expressing agreement, suitable for informal contexts where "By all means" might sound too formal.

Go ahead

Directly grants permission, whereas "By all means" adds enthusiasm to the permission.

Feel free

Offers permission in a polite way, lacking the strong affirmation present in "By all means".

Without a doubt

Emphasizes the certainty of something, but doesn't necessarily grant permission.

To be sure

Indicates agreement or confirmation, but it is not as direct as "By all means" in giving permission or encouragement.

Indeed

Conveys agreement or acknowledgement, but it is more formal and lacks the inviting tone of "By all means".

FAQs

How can I use "By all means" in a sentence?

"By all means" is typically used to give emphatic permission or encouragement. For example, "Can I borrow your car?" "By all means, take it!"

What's a less formal way to say "By all means"?

Less formal alternatives to "By all means" include "sure", "go ahead", or "feel free". The best choice depends on the context and your relationship with the person you're speaking to.

Is "By all means" appropriate for professional emails?

Yes, "By all means" can be used in professional emails to express strong agreement or grant permission. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of the communication. In some cases, a more formal alternative like "certainly" or "absolutely" might be more suitable.

What is the difference between "By all means" and "Of course"?

"Of course" implies that something is obvious or expected, while "By all means" expresses enthusiastic consent or permission. You might say "Of course, you can use my pen" if it's something you'd naturally offer, but "By all means, take it!" if you want to show extra enthusiasm in lending it.