be contingent upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"be contingent upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that something is conditional or subject to another thing or factor. For example: "The success of this project will be contingent upon the team's ability to stay on budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Drug efficacy was found to be contingent upon treatment volume.

Antiviral Research

He holds that U.S. aid should be contingent upon this development.

The New Yorker

Professional success may be contingent upon trusting these technologies as much — or more — than one's colleagues.

Harvard Business Review

Final award of the fellowship will be contingent upon the student securing an approved placement.

Harvard University

If you are offered admission, it will be contingent upon successful completion of your undergraduate degree.

Cornell University

Continuation as an enrolled student will be contingent upon approval of the prospectus.

Princeton University

The auctioneer announced, "The sale of this next lot will be contingent upon a satisfactory resolution of a court proceeding".

The New Yorker

Further revegetation activities in these catchments are likely to be contingent upon the development of profitable agroforestry options.

Landscape and Urban Planning

American support for a Palestinian state would, it was made clear, be contingent upon Palestinians electing a new leader.

The Economist

And of course, your admission offers will be contingent upon your continued performance at the level you've demonstrated so far.

The New York Times

"The bottom line is that application shouldn't be contingent upon a person in a government agency's reading of the statute," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be contingent upon" when you want to express a formal or conditional relationship between two things. Ensure that the condition is clearly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be contingent upon" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "depends on" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be contingent upon" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a condition or dependence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. The numerous examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use across various contexts to express that an event or outcome is conditional on another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

30%

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be contingent upon" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express conditionality or dependence. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and suitable for use in written English. The phrase is most frequently found in academic, news, and scientific contexts, indicating a formal register. While there are several alternatives, such as "depend on" or "rely on", it's important to consider the level of formality required. Remember to use this phrase judiciously, opting for simpler alternatives when the context is informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is dependent on

Simple synonym for "be contingent upon".

be conditional on

A more direct synonym, also conveys a sense of conditionality.

depend on

Shorter, more direct and common alternative. May lack the formality of "be contingent upon".

be predicated on

Implies that something is founded or based on something else; more formal.

hinge on

Emphasizes that something entirely relies on something else; similar in formality.

rest on

Similar to 'hinge on', indicating a critical dependence.

be subject to

Implies that something is liable to be affected by something else; less about a guaranteed outcome.

be determined by

Highlights that something is definitively decided by another factor.

rely on

Focuses on dependence for support or assistance.

turn on

Suggests that an outcome changes completely based on another factor; slightly less formal.

FAQs

What does "be contingent upon" mean?

The phrase "be contingent upon" means that something is dependent on certain conditions being met. It implies that the outcome is not guaranteed and relies on specific factors.

How can I use "be contingent upon" in a sentence?

You can use "be contingent upon" to show a conditional relationship. For example: "The project's success will "depend on" the team's ability to collaborate effectively."

What can I say instead of "be contingent upon"?

You can use alternatives like ""depend on"", "rely on", or "be subject to" depending on the context.

Is "be contingent upon" formal or informal?

"Be contingent upon" is considered a formal phrase. In less formal contexts, simpler alternatives like "depends on" or "relies on" are more appropriate.