being relied upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being relied upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of depending on someone or something for support or assistance. Example: "In a team environment, trust is essential, and each member must feel that they are being relied upon to contribute effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Schools are increasingly being relied upon to give pupils breakfast".

The Guardian - Opinion

More than ever before, emerging economies are being relied upon to help lift the world economy.

The Economist

Clearly, however, a number of assumptions are being relied upon here, and critics have made much of them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In February, Tortorella noted that Staal was bothered by no longer being relied upon as the Rangers' go-to defenseman.

The New York Times - Sports

He has already rescued American soccer once, and in the coming fortnight he is being relied upon to do it again.

The New York Times - Magazine

One implication of these changes is that (often much maligned) university communications and marketing professionals have been thrust centre stage and are being relied upon, tested and scrutinised like never before.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

These figures are not to be relied upon, though.

The New Yorker

It is not to be relied upon.

Independent

Here, the pollsters cannot be relied upon.

The Economist

He is writer who can be relied upon.

The Guardian - Books

Patel was told "your integrity cannot be relied upon".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "being relied upon", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the relying, as it's a passive construction. For example: "The success of the project is being relied upon by the stakeholders."

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice with "being relied upon", as it can make sentences vague. Instead of "Mistakes are being relied upon to happen", consider "We rely on the fact that mistakes happen" for a more direct and active construction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "being relied upon" is a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject is receiving the action of reliance from an unspecified agent. Ludwig confirms this usage through its examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

27%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being relied upon" is a common and grammatically sound passive verb phrase indicating dependence on someone or something. As indicated by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media, and scientific contexts, carrying a neutral to formal tone. While interchangeable with phrases like "being depended on", careful attention should be paid to maintaining a direct and active voice in writing. When using "being relied upon", remember to clearly define who or what is doing the relying. This phrase is generally correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being depended on

Simple substitution with a synonym, maintaining nearly identical meaning.

being counted on

Replaces "relied upon" with a more informal synonym.

being trusted

Focuses on the trust aspect of relying on something or someone.

being banked on

More colloquial, implying confidence in a particular outcome or person.

having faith in

Highlights the aspect of having belief or confidence.

being answerable to

Shifts the focus to accountability and responsibility.

being responsible for

Emphasizes the obligation associated with the reliance.

being at the mercy of

Implies a more vulnerable reliance, where control is limited.

being subject to

Indicates that the outcome is conditional on something else.

being obligated to

Focuses on the necessity and duty of reliance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "The team is being relied upon to deliver the project on time"?

You can use phrases such as "The team is "depended on" to deliver the project on time", or "The team is "counted on" to deliver the project on time".

What's the difference between "being relied upon" and "relying on"?

"Being relied upon" is passive, indicating that someone or something is the object of reliance. "Relying on" is active, meaning someone or something is doing the relying. For example: "The team is being relied upon" versus "The team is "relying on" the new software".

Is "being relied on" grammatically correct?

Yes, "being relied on" is grammatically correct, it's just a shorter form of "being relied upon" that is also frequently used.

In what contexts is "being relied upon" most appropriate?

The phrase "being relied upon" is suitable in formal contexts like news reports, academic papers, and business communications, as identified by Ludwig, where a passive construction is preferred to emphasize the object of reliance rather than the actor.