By Virtue Of Means | Write It Without Sounding Legal

You’ll see “By Virtue Of Means” pop up in essays, emails, and even reports where someone wants to sound precise. The trouble is that it blends two set phrases that do different jobs. Readers still guess your meaning, but the sentence often feels off, and some people will read it as an error.

This page gives you a clean way to pick the right wording fast, plus ready-to-use patterns you can drop into academic or professional writing. You’ll also get a quick self-check so you can edit your own lines in seconds.

What People Usually Mean When They Write This

Most of the time, the writer is reaching for one of two meanings:

• A reason or basis: something is true because a condition exists.
• A method or tool: something happens through a process or an instrument.

The first meaning points to status, authority, or a qualifying fact. The second meaning points to how an action gets done. When you combine them, you create a mash-up that asks the reader to do extra work.

Meaning One: A Reason, Right, Or Qualification

Use “by virtue of” when you mean “because of” in a formal tone, often tied to a role, rule, or condition. Cambridge Dictionary defines “by virtue of” as “because of; as a result of.” Cambridge’s definition of “by virtue of” matches how it shows up in policy, law, and academic writing.

These sentences point to a basis that grants a right, creates an outcome, or sets a boundary:

• She may vote by virtue of her citizenship.
• The committee has authority by virtue of the charter.
• The discount applies by virtue of the agreement signed in June.

Meaning Two: A Method, Tool, Or Route

Use “by means of” when you mean “using” or “through.” It names the way you achieved something. If you can swap in “using” and the sentence still works, you’re in “by means of” territory.

These lines point to a process or instrument:

• They verified the data by means of a second audit.
• The message was sent by means of encrypted email.
• She solved the equation by means of substitution.

By Virtue Of Means In Writing: Clear Use Cases

If you typed the full phrase because you wanted a formal connector, pause and pick one lane. Ask a single question: Am I naming a basis, or am I naming a method? Your answer usually makes the choice obvious.

When “By Virtue Of” Is The Better Fit

Choose it when a person or thing gets power, permission, or a result due to a condition that already exists. This is common in rules and academic claims where the condition matters more than any action taken.

• Status: “She is eligible by virtue of her residency.”
• Authority: “He may sign by virtue of his position.”
• Definition: “A square is a rectangle by virtue of having four right angles.”

Watch the noun after “of.” If it sounds like a qualifier—role, law, membership, property, feature—you’re usually safe.

When “By Means Of” Is The Better Fit

Choose it when your sentence needs a “how.” The phrase often sits near an action verb and can be followed by a tool, process, channel, or technique.

• Tool: “The sample was filtered by means of a membrane.”
• Process: “They reached consensus by means of a vote.”
• Channel: “He shared the file by means of a link.”

A quick swap test helps: if “using” fits, “by means of” will read smoothly.

Why The Mixed Phrase Sounds Wrong To Many Readers

English has a lot of fixed multi-word connectors. When you blend two of them, the line can feel like it’s trying too hard. Some readers will still understand you, but others will stop and re-read, which breaks flow.

There’s also a logic issue. “By virtue of” points to a basis. “By means of” points to a method. A basis is not a method. Mixing them can make the sentence feel like it’s claiming both at once.

Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus entry for “by virtue of” lists it as “as in by means of,” showing that people sometimes treat them as close in sense, even though they behave differently in real sentences. Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus note on “by virtue of” is a useful reminder: overlap exists, yet sentence fit still matters.

Fast Fix Method For Editing Your Own Sentence

When you spot the mixed phrase in a draft, run this three-step edit. It takes under a minute and usually upgrades the whole paragraph.

1. Circle the main verb. What action is happening in the sentence?
2. Ask “why” and “how.” If your phrase answers “why,” pick “by virtue of.” If it answers “how,” pick “by means of.”
3. Trim extra words. If the sentence still works without the connector, drop it.

This last step matters. Many lines don’t need either phrase. Cleaner writing often comes from removing a heavy connector and using a simple clause.

Common Meanings And The Best Wording To Match

Use the table below as a quick chooser. Start in the left column, then grab the wording that fits your intent.

What You Mean	Better Phrase	How It Reads
Permission comes from a rule or role	by virtue of	Points to authority or eligibility
A result happens because a condition exists	by virtue of	Links outcome to a qualifying fact
You did something using a tool	by means of	Names an instrument or device
You achieved something through a process	by means of	Names steps, methods, or procedures
You’re pointing to a definition or property	by virtue of	Connects a claim to a defining feature
You’re naming a channel for delivery	by means of	Signals how something was sent or moved
You can state the link with “because”	because / since	Often shorter and clearer
You can state the link with “using”	using / through	Often shorter and clearer

Sentence Patterns That Sound Natural In School And Work

Even when your meaning is right, these phrases can sound stiff if they’re placed awkwardly. The patterns below help the line read like normal English, not a contract.

Pattern A: Subject + Verb + By Virtue Of + Noun Phrase

This is the classic form for eligibility, authority, and classification. Keep the noun phrase tight.

• The student qualifies by virtue of her prior credits.
• The agency acts by virtue of the statute.

Pattern B: Subject + Verb + By Means Of + Tool Or Method

This form works well in lab reports, how-to writing, and procedural notes. Use a concrete method.

• The team tracked progress by means of weekly check-ins.
• The sample cooled by means of a water bath.

Pattern C: Replace The Connector With A Clean Clause

Sometimes the best fix is to turn the connector into a second clause. The sentence often gets lighter and easier to scan.

• Stiff: The policy applies by virtue of your enrollment.
• Clean: The policy applies because you’re enrolled.

Table Of Rewrites You Can Copy

If you want a quick upgrade, use these rewrites as templates. Keep the intent, swap the connector, and you’re done.

Draft Line	Cleaner Rewrite	Reason It Works
He gained access by virtue of means of his badge.	He gained access by means of his badge.	Badge is a tool that enables entry
She is exempt by virtue of means of her status.	She is exempt by virtue of her status.	Status is the basis for the exemption
The result follows by virtue of means of the formula.	The result follows from the formula.	“From” is shorter and still precise
They sent the notice by virtue of means of email.	They sent the notice by email.	Plain channel wording reads clean
The claim is true by virtue of means of its definition.	The claim is true by virtue of its definition.	Definition is a basis, not a method
We finished the task by virtue of means of teamwork.	We finished the task through teamwork.	Process wording fits the “how” meaning

Small Grammar Choices That Keep You Safe

These phrases have a formal feel, so small grammar slips stand out. A few checks keep your writing steady.

Pick A Concrete Noun After “Of”

Vague nouns make the line fuzzy. “By virtue of reasons” is weak. “By virtue of the contract” is clear. When your noun is concrete, the reader sees the link right away.

Don’t Stack Connectors

Writers sometimes pair the phrase with other heavy connectors. That’s when the sentence starts to drag. One connector is enough. If you already used “because,” skip “by virtue of.”

Keep It Close To The Claim It Explains

If the phrase sits far from the word it modifies, the reader can misread what it refers to. Put it near the verb or the claim it explains, then move on.

Where This Shows Up In Academic Writing

In essays, the phrase often appears in definition sentences and classification statements. That’s fine when it’s doing real work. If it’s only there to sound formal, cut it and use a plain clause.

Here are two safe ways to use it in a paragraph without sounding forced:

• Definition link: “A whale is a mammal by virtue of breathing air and nursing its young.”
• Rule link: “The sample was excluded by virtue of failing the quality check.”

Notice how the nouns after “of” are concrete. They name features or criteria, not vague “factors.”

Where This Shows Up In Business And Email Writing

Work writing tends to reward clarity over formality. If you’re writing an email, a shorter connector is often the right call. “Because” and “using” are plain, and they rarely sound wrong.

When you do use a formal connector at work, keep the sentence short. One clause before it, one clear noun after it. Then stop.

A One-Minute Checklist Before You Hit Submit

• Does the phrase explain a basis or a method?
• Can you swap in “because” or “using” and keep the meaning?
• Is the noun after “of” concrete and specific?
• Would a second clause be cleaner than any connector?
• Did you avoid stacking two formal connectors in one line?

If you run this checklist on just the sentences that feel heavy, your whole piece will read smoother without changing your ideas.