be depended upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be depended upon" is not correct in standard English; the correct form is "be depended on." You can use it when discussing reliability or trustworthiness in a person or thing.
Example: "In times of crisis, we need to know that we can be depended on to support each other."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The very poor can always be depended upon," he wrote.

The New Yorker

He could never be depended upon at the crucial moment.

The New Yorker

If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only the coaches and their systems stick around, and only they can be depended upon for the long term.

The New Yorker

The effect of your prose could be helpful or not, but at least your words could be depended upon.

The New York Times - Magazine

But even that perk can't be depended upon to make celebrity worth the hassle required to maintain it.

The New York Times - Magazine

The process was now manipulated so that only the names of men who could be depended upon were drawn.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Addressing Mr. Trimble in the hushed hall, Mr. Mandelson said the government would be depending upon his "strength and courage" in the days to come.

The New York Times

Further, the extent of enzyme deactivation was found to be depending upon gassed power consumption per unit volume.

Chemical Engineering Science

Anything less will be depending upon a broken, corrupted system where even those with the best intentions have to play the big money game.

Huffington Post

The value of prognostic information may be depend upon the specific nature, extent, and timing of such information.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "be depended upon" is widely used, opt for the grammatically correct and more formal "be depended on" in professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "be depended upon" in formal writing. Although common, it's generally considered less correct than "be depended on". Choose the latter to maintain grammatical precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be depended upon" functions as a passive construction, where the subject receives the action of depending. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not the correct form, recommending "be depended on" instead.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be depended upon" is a passive construction used to convey reliability or trustworthiness. However, Ludwig AI points out that it is grammatically incorrect; the proper form is "be depended on". Despite its frequent appearance in various sources, including news and general writing, it is advisable to use "be depended on" in formal settings to ensure grammatical correctness. Alternatives like "be relied on", "be counted on", and "be trusted" offer similar meanings while adhering to standard grammar rules.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be relied on

Replaces "upon" with the more grammatically accepted preposition "on".

be counted on

Emphasizes the idea of being able to include someone or something in one's plans or expectations.

be trusted

Focuses on the aspect of trustworthiness and confidence in someone or something.

be certain

Highlights the sureness and predictability associated with the person or thing.

be assured

Emphasizes the guarantee or promise of reliability.

be guaranteed

Focuses on the assurance of a certain outcome or behavior.

be responsible

Implies a duty or obligation to be dependable.

be faithful

Highlights loyalty and unwavering support.

be steadfast

Emphasizes consistency and unwavering commitment.

be predictable

Stresses the regularity and expected behavior.

FAQs

Is "be depended upon" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "be depended upon" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and preferred form is "be depended on".

What's the difference between "be depended upon" and "be depended on"?

The primary difference lies in grammatical correctness. "Be depended on" is the standard, grammatically accepted form, whereas "be depended upon" is often viewed as an error, though frequently used.

When should I use "be depended on" instead of "be depended upon"?

In formal writing, always use "be depended on". "Be depended upon" might be acceptable in very informal contexts but is best avoided to maintain clarity and correctness.

What are some alternatives to "be depended upon"?

You can use alternatives such as "be relied on", "be counted on", or "be trusted" to convey a similar meaning while maintaining grammatical correctness.