by no means all do?

[Eway]

"If an infertile couple decide to go for fertility treatment, and by no means all do, there are a number of important factors to be taken into account."

What does "by no means all do" mean?

[BobK]

'by no means ' is an emphatic way of saying not. Certainly not every infertile couple does decide to go..... The emphasis is so strong that the writer is implying that many people (possibly a majority) don't.

b

[MikeNewYork]

"If an infertile couple decide to go for fertility treatment, and by no means all do, there are a number of important factors to be taken into account."

What does "by no means all do" mean?

I agree with Bob's meaning. The problem here is that there is normally an inversion of the subject and verb after "by no means". Hwoever, that elided clause sounds strange either way. I would suggest one of two things:

1. Lengthen the clause: If an infertile couple decide(s) to go for fertility treatment, and by no means, do all choose that option, there are a number of important factors to be taken into account."

2. Change "by not means" to "not": If an infertile couple(s) decide to go for fertility treatment, and not all do, there are a number of important factors to be taken into account."