conditional on

USAGE SUMMARY

"conditional on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a condition or requirement that must be met in order for something to happen. For example: Admission to the university is conditional on passing the entrance exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The smaller teams tend to sign one-year deals, conditional on sponsorship income.

The Guardian - Sport

Farm subsidies everywhere are conditional on the land being in "agricultural condition".

The Guardian - Opinion

But it cannot be conditional on fantasy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Made the outlook conditional on inflation.

The Guardian - Business

"Affection can be conditional on success.

The Guardian

"Everything is conditional on his departure".

The New York Times

"They've always been conditional on the data".

The New York Times

The deal was conditional on an end to the violence.

The Guardian

This would be conditional on them sticking to their commitments.

The Guardian - Business

Other promises are conditional on countries getting money.

The Guardian

Bail-outs may be conditional on the managers being sacked.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "conditional on", ensure the sentence clearly states both the condition and the outcome that depends on it for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "conditional on" without explicitly stating what is dependent on the condition. For example, instead of "The project is conditional on funding", specify "The project will proceed conditional on funding approval".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conditional on" functions as a prepositional phrase that establishes a condition for the occurrence or validity of something else. Ludwig shows this use in numerous examples, indicating its role in setting requirements or dependencies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conditional on" is a versatile and widely used prepositional phrase for expressing that something is dependent on a specific condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for various formal and informal contexts. The phrase frequently appears in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business communications. When using "conditional on", it's essential to clearly state both the condition and the outcome to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "dependent on" and "contingent on" offer similar meanings, but the choice depends on the context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dependent on

Emphasizes reliance or dependence on a specific factor.

contingent on

Highlights the uncertainty and potential variability based on a condition.

subject to

Suggests a liability to be affected by a certain condition or circumstance.

depending on

Indicates variation or change according to the specified condition.

predicated on

Implies that something is founded or based on a specific assumption or condition.

relying on

Highlights the act of trusting or depending on something for a specific outcome.

hinging on

Conveys that the outcome or success is critically dependent on a particular aspect.

governed by

Indicates regulation or control by a specific rule or condition.

limited by

Implies a restriction or constraint imposed by a particular condition.

assuming that

Highlights a presumption or supposition serving as a condition.

FAQs

How can I use "conditional on" in a sentence?

Use "conditional on" to show that something will only happen or is only true if something else happens or is true. For instance, "Approval is "conditional on" meeting all requirements".

What phrases are similar to "conditional on"?

Alternatives include phrases like "dependent on", "contingent on", or "subject to", which all convey a similar meaning of conditionality.

Is it better to use "conditional on" or "depending on"?

"Conditional on" is more formal and emphasizes a specific requirement. "Depending on" is more general and suggests a variation based on circumstances. The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What is the difference between "conditional on" and "provided that"?

"Conditional on" emphasizes that an action or outcome is subject to a condition. "Provided that" introduces a stipulation that must be met. They are often interchangeable, but "provided that" can sometimes imply a stronger guarantee or assurance.