depend mostly on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "depend mostly on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is based mainly on one or more particular factors. For example: "Our success in the competition will depend mostly on how well we practice."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They depend mostly on rain.

The New York Times

But the 99% depend mostly on wages and salaries.

The Guardian - Opinion

Your answers probably depend, mostly, on your intellectual proclivities.

The New Yorker

Instead of relying mostly on selling copies, newspapers came to depend mostly on advertising.

The Economist

Its success will depend mostly on whether the meat is cooked to your liking and my timing is for a rare-ish finish.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Somewhat pettishly, though no doubt with some truth, de Botton asserts that the chief executive's success will depend mostly on luck.

The New York Times - Books

Whether more heat and carbon produce yield increases seems to depend mostly on local conditions.Meanwhile, the impact of other negative influences is more important than was thought.

The Economist

Because North Koreans cannot travel freely in their country, the Web sites are forced to depend mostly on people who live near China.

The New York Times

Whether President Obama is able expand that gap to favor his party will probably depend mostly on Americans under the age of 30 who have yet to form strong partisan ties.

The New York Times

What is different for town hills, he said, is that because they depend mostly on local residents, they reflect — more than the Strattons or Lake Tahoes of the world — local life and economics, for better or worse.

The New York Times

And these, experts say, are more complicated than PC software.Jini's success will depend mostly on whether Sun can persuade the computer and consumer-electronics industries to embrace the technology.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance readability, avoid overusing "depend mostly on" in close proximity. Vary your sentence structure with synonyms like "primarily rely on" or "largely hinge on".

Common error

Avoid using "depend mostly on" when the relationship is more nuanced or when multiple factors have nearly equal importance. Overstating the primary dependence can mislead the reader and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depend mostly on" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something relies primarily on a particular factor or set of conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "depend mostly on" is a versatile and correct way to express that something relies primarily on a particular factor. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous real-world examples confirms its validity and wide applicability. It is grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts such as science, news, and business. While synonyms like "rely primarily on" or "hinge largely on" can add nuance, it's essential to avoid overstating the primary dependence if multiple factors are significant. "Depend mostly on" serves to highlight what is most critical for an outcome, and its frequent usage underscores its importance in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely primarily on

Focuses on the act of relying rather than depending, emphasizing the active choice of using a particular resource or method.

hinge largely on

Suggests that something is critically dependent on a particular factor, where the outcome is significantly determined by it.

be mainly determined by

Emphasizes the aspect of determination, indicating that the outcome is substantially defined by the specified factor.

be significantly influenced by

Highlights the influence of a factor, indicating that it plays a considerable role in shaping the result.

rest substantially on

Indicates that something is fundamentally based on a particular element, highlighting its importance as a foundation.

be chiefly governed by

Implies a rule-based influence, where the outcome is mainly controlled or directed by the specified factor.

be substantially conditional upon

Indicates a strong dependency where the existence or success of something is heavily contingent on the specified condition.

be fundamentally predicated on

Implies that something is essentially based on a core assumption or condition, highlighting its foundational nature.

be largely a function of

Suggests that something's value or state is greatly determined by a particular variable, emphasizing its role as a key determinant.

be primarily subject to

Indicates that something is mostly controlled or affected by a particular influence, emphasizing its vulnerability or responsiveness to it.

FAQs

How can I use "depend mostly on" in a sentence?

You can use "depend mostly on" to show that one thing relies on another to a great extent. For example, "The success of the project will "depend mostly on" the team's effort".

What are some alternatives to "depend mostly on"?

Alternatives include phrases like "rely primarily on", "hinge largely on", or "be mainly determined by", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "depends mostly on" instead of "depend mostly on"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "depends" for singular subjects (e.g., "The outcome depends mostly on...") and "depend" for plural subjects (e.g., "Their decisions depend mostly on...").

What's the difference between "depend mostly on" and "depend entirely on"?

"Depend mostly on" indicates that one factor is the most important, but other factors may also play a role. "Depend entirely on" means that something relies solely on that factor, with no other influences.