Depending on who

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Depending on who" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or outcome that varies based on the identity or perspective of a person or group involved. Example: "Depending on who you ask, the answer to that question may vary significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I tailor my answers depending on who I'm talking to.

Vice

You will get different answers depending on who you ask; public, scientists, risk assessors".

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Depending on who uses it, it will have contradictory meanings.

The Guardian - Music

Depending on who you speak to, you hear he was fantastic or he was horrendous.

The Guardian - Sport

Depending on who you read, there are somewhere between six and 10 "types" of crossword clues.

The Guardian - Books

Depending on who was polling, between 83% and 90% of Americans said they approved.

The Guardian - Opinion

Depending on who you ask, World War III is imminent.

Vice

Depending on who you're playing for, you adjust accordingly.

Vice

Depending on who you asked, he automatically became the coolest or weirdest person in the bar.

Huffington Post

Depending on who the public believed, Sulkowicz was either a heroic victim or a vindictive liar.

Huffington Post

(Depending on who you ask, there's at least 65 or so).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "depending on who", ensure that the context clearly indicates what aspect is changing or varying based on the person involved. This helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures the message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "who" when "whom" is grammatically correct. While "who" is increasingly accepted in informal contexts, using "whom" in formal writing adds precision and demonstrates a strong command of grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depending on who" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause that indicates a condition or factor influencing a particular outcome or perspective. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "depending on who" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates variability based on the individual or group involved. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. While it's suitable for both informal and formal contexts, the "whom" variant offers added precision in formal writing. The phrase is frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific publications, showcasing its broad applicability. To avoid ambiguity, ensure the context clearly defines the aspect that is subject to change. Overall, "depending on who" is a valuable tool for expressing subjective and conditional perspectives in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Depending on whom

This alternative maintains a formal tone, focusing on grammatical correctness by using the objective case "whom".

Depending on the individual

This alternative emphasizes the person and their unique perspective, swapping the pronoun for a noun.

Based on who you ask

This alternative replaces "depending" with "based", highlighting the subjectivity of the information.

According to the person

This alternative focuses on the source of the information, emphasizing a specific viewpoint.

It varies by person

This alternative is more direct, stating that the outcome changes with each person.

Subject to the speaker

This alternative highlights that the outcome depends on who is speaking.

From one person to another

This alternative emphasizes the change in outcome from one person to another.

Conditional on the speaker

This alternative stresses the conditionality of the result based on the speaker.

Relative to the person

This alternative specifies that the result is relative to the individual involved.

Contingent on the source

This alternative emphasizes the dependency of the result on the information source.

FAQs

How can I use "depending on who" in a sentence?

Use "depending on who" to show that an outcome, opinion, or result changes based on the person involved. For example, "The answer varies, "depending on who" you ask".

What's the difference between "depending on who" and "depending on whom"?

"Depending on who" is generally used in informal contexts, while "depending on whom" is the grammatically correct form for formal writing. "Whom" is the objective case of "who", used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.

What can I say instead of "depending on who"?

You can use alternatives like "based on who", "according to the person", or "it varies by person" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "whom" after "depending on"?

While "whom" is technically correct, "who" is often used in everyday speech and informal writing. However, for formal writing, especially in academic or professional contexts, using "whom" is advisable to maintain grammatical precision.