Page 355 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

349 means
350
1
2
singular and plural ending in -s
Both the singular and the plural of means end in os.
In the 19th century a new means ofcommunication was developed - the
railway. (NOT ••• a nett! mean fJ!oommttnieatitm ...) There are several means oftransport on the island.
For other words with singular forms ending in os. see 524.3. by a/Vany/no means
By all means is not the same as by all possible means. It is used to give pennission or to encourage somebody to do something, and means 'of course' or 'it is all right to .. .' Compare:
Can I borrow your sweater? ""By all means.
By all means get a new coat, but don't spend more than £80.
We must help her by all possible means. (NOT Vie m/;lSt hel" hef' by all metms.)
By no means (or not by any means) is not the opposite of by all means. It is similar to definitely not, or not by a long way.
Is that all you've got to say? -By no means.
Galileo was by lU ) means the first person to use a telescope.
measurements: 'marked' and 'unmarked' forms
Many adjectives that are used in measurements come in pairs (e.g. tall/short, old/young, heavy/light, fast/slow). The word that is used for the 'top' end of the measurement scale can usually be used in another sense, to talk about the quality in general. For instance, one can ask how long something is even if it is relatively short. Grammarians call these uses 'unmarked'. Compare:
-
-
-
She's very tall and he's very short. (marked)
Exactly how tall are they both? (unmarked) (NOT &ttetly h6tt! sh6,.t ale they
b6th:!)
Will you still love me when I'm old? (marked)
He's only twenty-three years old. (unmarked) (NOT •.• tttJenfy three years
)'6 Illig.)
Lead is one o f the heaviest metals. (marked)
Scales are used to measure how heavy things are. (unmarked) (NOT •••-htttt!
measurements: 'marked' and 'unmarked' forms 350
li~ht fhings a,e.)
Some nouns are used in similar 'unmarked' ways. Compare:
-
-
Age brings wisdom but I'd rather have youth and stupidity. (marked) What is her exact age? (unmarked) (NOT Yihat is he,. exttet Y6ttth7) The worst thing about the film was its length. (marked)
What's the length ofa football field? (Unmarked) (NOT What's the
SI"l6rtness ...?)
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