by certain means

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by certain means" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific methods or ways of achieving something without specifying what those methods are. Example: "The project was completed by certain means that ensured efficiency and effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Improving the nutritional profile of food by increasing the overall content of (plant) proteins, dietary fibres or whole grains can be achieved by certain means of structuring.

Procedia Food Science

They also have principles — which, again, may not be to your liking, but they at least exist: removing certain identifying information, distributing to press by certain means only, etc.

TechCrunch

For finding the areas, which locally and/or temporarily has bottlenecks in traffic or are underserved by certain means of transport (e.g. buses and trains), a comprehensive analysis and the creation of a new all-transport plan covering traffic model is needed [20].

European Transport Research Review

Even under the majority's holding that spending money in elections is a form of political speech protected by the First Amendment, Stevens finds "nothing even arguably unfair about evenhanded rules that limit the amount of speech that can be voiced in certain times or places or by certain means".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The model leads to motion by a certain anisotropic mean curvature.

Journal of Functional Analysis

Yet that is by no means certain.

The Economist

It seems by no means certain.

The New Yorker

That result is by no means certain.

The New York Times

But that is by no means certain.

The New York Times - Books

But this is by no means certain anymore.

The New York Times - Magazine

All this is by no means certain, of course.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by certain means", ensure the context implies that the methods are deliberate and potentially not universally known or obvious. This adds a layer of specificity and intrigue to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "by certain means" if the methods are already clear or are about to be explicitly stated. Overusing the phrase without a good reason can make your writing sound unnecessarily vague or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by certain means" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the method or manner by which something is accomplished. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by certain means" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is achieved through particular methods, though those methods are not explicitly specified. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, commonly found in science and news media. While versatile, it should be used judiciously to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "through specific methods" can provide greater clarity if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

through specific methods

Replaces "certain means" with "specific methods", emphasizing the detailed and particular nature of the approach.

via particular channels

Substitutes "means" with "channels", suggesting a route or pathway through which something is accomplished.

using defined procedures

Replaces "means" with "procedures", highlighting a structured and formalized way of doing something.

by employing specific strategies

Replaces "means" with "strategies", emphasizing a planned set of actions to achieve a goal.

through designated avenues

Uses "avenues" instead of "means", suggesting established routes or ways to achieve an outcome.

utilizing precise techniques

Replaces "means" with "techniques", highlighting the skill and method used to accomplish something.

by leveraging established mechanisms

Emphasizes the use of existing systems to achieve a result.

by virtue of determined processes

Focuses on the established and defined nature of the methods used.

through certain defined protocols

Replaces 'means' with 'protocols', emphasizing a set of rules and procedures.

with the aid of specific methodologies

Highlights the systematic approach taken using well-defined methodologies.

FAQs

How can I use "by certain means" in a sentence?

Use "by certain means" to indicate that something is achieved through specific, though perhaps unspecified, methods. For example, "Improving the nutritional profile of food can be achieved by certain means of structuring."

What does "by certain means" imply?

"By certain means" implies that there are particular methods or strategies being employed, without explicitly stating what those methods are. It suggests a level of intentionality and specificity.

Which is a more precise alternative to "by certain means"?

More precise alternatives include "through specific methods" or "via particular channels", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

How formal is the phrase "by certain means"?

"By certain means" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for professional, academic, or news contexts. It is less common in very informal conversation.