devise a means of

USAGE SUMMARY

"devise a means of" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe the process of coming up with a solution or method for achieving a goal. For example, "The research team was tasked with devising a means of reducing water waste in the factory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

A stage magician called Tommy Trent is travelling to the western front after being asked to devise a means of making allied aircraft invisible to the enemy.

The Guardian - Books

A stage magician called Tommy Trent is travelling to the western front after being asked to devise a means of making allied aircraft invisible to the enemy.

The Guardian - Books

The winning idea came not from an oil industry specialist but from a chemist, John Davis, who applied his expertise in the concrete industry to devise a means of keeping oil liquid as it is pumped.

Harvard Business Review

If, for example three 15-year-old radio hams were to devise a means of jamming all telephone calls within a 5-block radius of their high-school basement with an electronic device that prevented their neighbors from hearing conversations over their phones, the young scientists would very shortly find themselves studying woodcraft at the Wiltwyck School.

The New Yorker

Hurricane winds have been known to reach a velocity of 130 miles an hour, but the winds of a tornado are so violent that science has yet to devise a means of measuring them; on the basis of their demonstrated strenght it is safe to say that they travel at well over 300 miles per hours, and some meteorologists have put the figure at nearly twice that.

The New Yorker

The acute effects of cryothermia on regional electrophysiology were examined in order to devise a means of localizing and monitoring the intramural progression of ventricular cryolesions during a two-minute period of cryothermia application.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Rehearsing to play God, he devised a means of synthesising probiotics to waft away vaginal odours.

The Guardian - Books

In the novel the opposition to Gen. Augusto Pinochet devises a means of winning the 1988 referendum on the dictatorship.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Neither the Russians nor anyone else had devised a means of turning men into robots and there was "little threat, if any, to national security," the study said.

The New York Times

But it wasn't until my junior year at Columbia that I devised a means of spending more time there than any customer in its history.

The New Yorker

Foremost among them was a manufacturing question: while Sheridon had devised a means of fabricating the little balls, it did not yield uniform spheres; he found himself poking through the tiny globes, looking for good ones.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devise a means of" when you want to emphasize the intellectual effort involved in creating a solution, rather than simply finding one. It suggests a deliberate and thoughtful process.

Common error

Avoid using "devise a means of" in very informal situations. Simpler alternatives like "find a way to" or "figure out how to" are often more appropriate for casual conversation or writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devise a means of" functions as an infinitive phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, indicating the purpose or method for achieving a certain outcome. It often introduces a clause that elaborates on the intended action or strategy. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Science

17%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devise a means of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey the deliberate creation of a method or solution. As Ludwig AI points out, its usage is considered correct in written English. While "devise a means of" appears across different contexts like News & Media and Academia, it is most suited for formal settings. When writing, it's best to use the phrase when the focus is on intellect and careful planning. Remember, for informal conversations, more direct options like "find a way" might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop a method for

Focuses more on the process of development than on the result itself.

create a system for

Implies a structured and organized approach.

formulate a plan to

Emphasizes planning and strategy.

establish a strategy for

Highlights the strategic aspect of finding a solution.

contrive a way to

Suggests ingenuity or resourcefulness, potentially in a challenging situation.

engineer a solution for

Implies a technical or precise approach.

pioneer an approach to

Suggests innovation and being the first to try something.

originate a process for

Highlights the creation of a new process.

discover a technique for

Focuses on uncovering an existing but previously unknown technique.

invent a mechanism for

Emphasizes the creation of a specific, often technical, mechanism.

FAQs

How can I use "devise a means of" in a sentence?

The phrase "devise a means of" is used to describe the process of creating or inventing a method to achieve a specific goal. For example, "Scientists are working to devise a means of generating clean energy".

What are some alternatives to "devise a means of"?

You can use alternatives such as "develop a method for", "create a system for", or "formulate a plan to" depending on the context.

Is "devise a means of" formal or informal?

"Devise a means of" is generally considered a formal phrase. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "find a way to" or "figure out how to" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "devise a means of" and "find a way to"?

"Devise a means of" suggests a more deliberate and intellectual process of creating a solution, while "find a way to" implies discovering a pre-existing solution or improvising. The best option depends on the situation and the level of formality required.