an effective means of

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "an effective means of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that is an efficient way of achieving a desired result. For example: "Having a thorough plan of action was an effective means of completing the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Certainly an effective means of survival.

The New Yorker

Flexible working is an effective means of retaining this talent.

The Guardian

Road pricing is an effective means of influencing car usage.

Transport Policy

Some 94% of these doctors found placebos to be an effective means of treatment.

The Guardian

Newscounter is an effective means of using new media to secure a right of reply.

The Guardian

Math was, for young Tengo, an effective means of retreat from his life with his father.

The New Yorker

I'm no more convinced than I was that films are an effective means of social change.

The Guardian - Film

In the short term, tax policy is not an effective means of fine-tuning the economy.

The New York Times

This made possible an effective means of setting dialogue to music.

The New York Times - Arts

It sounds primitive today, but in 1969 it was an effective means of communication.

The New York Times

There's no doubt that wildlife imagery is an effective means of building environmental awareness.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an effective means of", ensure that the noun following "of" clearly indicates the action or result being achieved. For example, "an effective means of communication" is clearer than "an effective means of progress" if progress is vaguely defined.

Common error

Avoid using "an effective means of" in overly convoluted sentences. Simpler constructions often improve clarity and readability. For example, instead of "Implementing this strategy is an effective means of ensuring that the project is completed successfully", consider "This strategy effectively ensures project completion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an effective means of" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a method, tool, or strategy that successfully achieves a particular result. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, such as "an effective means of communication" or "an effective means of treatment".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an effective means of" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe something that successfully achieves a desired outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. While very common across various contexts, particularly in science, news and media, and formal business settings, writers should be mindful of its formality and consider simpler alternatives for improved clarity in some cases. Remember to clearly define the outcome being achieved when using this phrase. Alternatives like "an efficient way to" or "a successful method for" may offer better clarity in certain situations. With its solid grammatical standing and frequent appearance in authoritative sources, mastering the usage of "an effective means of" will improve your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an efficient way to

Replaces "means" with "way", focusing on the efficiency aspect.

a successful method for

Substitutes "effective" with "successful" and "means" with "method", highlighting achievement.

a useful strategy for

Replaces "means" with "strategy", emphasizing planning and approach.

a productive technique for

Changes "effective" to "productive" and "means" to "technique", focusing on output.

a valuable tool for

Replaces "means" with "tool", suggesting utility and application.

an instrumental process for

Substitutes "effective" with "instrumental" and "means" with "process", highlighting importance.

an efficacious approach to

Changes "effective" to "efficacious" and "means" to "approach", focusing on effectiveness.

a potent mechanism for

Replaces "effective" with "potent" and "means" with "mechanism", emphasizing power.

a sound solution for

Substitutes "effective means" with "sound solution", focusing on problem-solving.

a helpful resource for

Replaces "means" with "resource", suggesting assistance and availability.

FAQs

How can I use "an effective means of" in a sentence?

Use "an effective means of" to describe a method, tool, or approach that successfully achieves a specific outcome. For example, "Careful planning is "an effective means of" avoiding costly mistakes".

What are some alternatives to saying "an effective means of"?

You can use phrases like "an efficient way to", "a successful method for", or "a useful strategy for" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "an effective means of" or a simpler construction?

While grammatically correct, "an effective means of" can sometimes sound overly formal. Consider using simpler alternatives like "effectively" or "a good way to" when appropriate to maintain clarity and readability.

What's the difference between "an effective means of" and "an efficient means of"?

"Effective" implies achieving the desired outcome, while "efficient" implies achieving the outcome with minimal waste or effort. "An effective means of" gets the job done; "an efficient means of" gets it done well and without wasting resources.