ill means

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ill means" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a misspelling or misinterpretation of "ill means," which could refer to "ill intentions" or "ill will." Example: "His ill means were evident in the way he treated his colleagues."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Mental illness means that you are ill and being ill means that you can get better.

BBC

What I would say to anyone suffering from any mental health illness is that you contain more strength and courage than someone else can ever give you.Mental illness means that you are ill and being ill means that you can get better.

BBC

Within Borrow Direct, you can access nearly 50 million items and be assured that they will be delivered quicker than traditional ILL means.

Cornell University

The narrowness of that Obama-era restriction opens up the question of what "mentally ill" means in this context, beyond being a way for gun advocates to change the subject.

The New Yorker

But the city's and nation's intense and legitimate concerns about the excessive force used on unarmed people, especially men of color and the mentally ill, means everyone is on high alert when it happens.

Los Angeles Times

But mental health professionals and defense attorneys say bias against the mentally ill means evidence intended to convince a jury to reduce a sentence may have just the opposite effect.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Being ill meant that I had to address how I feel.

The Guardian - Music

Jasper, who is acting as a liaison for the family until they are ready to speak to the press, wrote in a blog about the case: "The obvious fact that Sarah was ill meant that placing her in the criminal justice system without recourse to the medical help she clearly needed was an unforgivable act of brutality and cruelty.

The Guardian

However, a devastating period in which his twin brother passed away and his mother became ill meant the party never got off the ground.

Vice

All of the patients were severely ill (mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score 22) and all were treated with oseltamivir.

Critical Care

They acknowledged how their delay in recognising or admitting being ill meant they not only entered care in worse state than women, but also proceeded to fare worse.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "ill means", consider using more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "malicious intent" or "harmful intentions" for clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "ill means" when you actually intend to convey "malicious intent" or "bad intentions". The phrase is not standard English and may confuse your readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill means" is generally intended to function as a noun phrase, referring to a person's bad intentions or malevolent purposes. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, it's more accurate to use alternatives such as "malicious intent" or "bad intentions."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ill means" is not grammatically correct and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI suggests opting for more precise and widely accepted alternatives like "malicious intent" or "bad intentions" to clearly convey the idea of harmful or unethical purposes. Although the phrase appears in a few online sources, its usage is rare and can lead to confusion, making it essential to choose more standard expressions for clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious intent

Focuses specifically on the intention behind harmful actions, unlike the broader "ill means".

harmful intentions

Emphasizes the harmful nature of the intentions, providing a clearer understanding of the potential consequences.

bad intentions

A more common and straightforward way of expressing negative intentions.

evil designs

Highlights the planning of malevolent actions, suggesting a more deliberate and sinister approach.

nefarious schemes

Implies complex and deceitful planning aimed at achieving wicked goals.

sinister motives

Focuses on the underlying reasons for actions, suggesting a hidden and potentially dangerous purpose.

unfriendly intentions

Emphasizes that the user has plans to harm somebody.

negative purpose

Shows that the actions have a negative and unfavorable aspect.

unfavorable designs

Shows that the plans are unpromising.

malevolent plans

Implies the plans are immoral.

FAQs

What does "ill means" refer to?

While not grammatically correct, "ill means" is likely intended to refer to "malicious intent" or "bad intentions", implying harmful or unethical purposes.

Is "ill means" grammatically correct?

No, "ill means" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in English. It is better to use alternatives like "malicious intent" or "harmful intentions".

What can I say instead of "ill means"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "malicious intent", "bad intentions", or "harmful purposes" to convey the intended meaning more clearly.

How can I use "malicious intent" in a sentence?

You can use "malicious intent" in a sentence like: "His actions clearly demonstrated a malicious intent to harm the company's reputation."