Learn English – difference between a “way” and a “means”

differencesword-choice

From my workbook:

If you think that this is the most effective means of conveying our brand name …

Does using way instead of means make sense? Also what is the difference between those two words and why means is preferred in that sentence?

Best Answer

If you think that this is the most effective means of

Using an agent to perform: whatever this refers to is used as an agent or a tool for conveying our brand name .... means: An action or system by which a result is brought about. [Google]

If you think that this is the most effective way of conveying our brand name ...

Following a method, a style, an option, or such, in doing something. Doing like this is most effective in conveying our brand name .... A method, style, or manner of doing something: "two ways of approaching the problem". [Google]

However, note that the words have a broad range of meanings, are interchangeable and almost synonymous in some contexts, but not in others.