depend solely on

USAGE SUMMARY

"depend solely on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used whenever someone needs to rely completely on something. For example: My success in this project will depend solely on my ability to work efficiently.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These conflicting results show that cell-dependent effects of estradiol do not depend solely on ER-α expression.

Breast Cancer Research

New money does not depend solely on banks making loans.

The Economist

The GSOF controllers depend solely on scheduling parameters.

Automatica

The longer FC Dallas depend solely on Blas Perez for goals, the longer this slump continues.

The Guardian - Sport

There are no birds, fish, or other insects that depend solely on Aedes aegypti.

The New Yorker

So investors in many cases depend solely on the company's description of how things are progressing.

The New York Times

Under it, villages would no longer depend solely on the national police sent from Kabul.

The New York Times

"It will depend solely on whether the election has been fairly conducted".

The Guardian

But the speed with which we do that does not depend solely on government.

The Guardian

The yuccas have evolved to depend solely on these moths for pollination.

Britannica

"We have to depend solely on Syrians to liberate ourselves," insisted another.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "depend solely on" to clearly indicate complete reliance on a single factor, avoiding ambiguity about other potential influences.

Common error

Avoid using "depend solely on" when there are other contributing factors, even if they are minor. Overstating reliance can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depend solely on" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating complete reliance or dependence on a single factor. It is used to emphasize that no other element contributes significantly to the outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "depend solely on" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys complete reliance on a single element. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its prevalence across various authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and scientific journals underscores its versatility. While alternatives such as "rely exclusively on" or "hinge entirely on" exist, "depend solely on" provides a clear and direct way to communicate exclusive dependence. When using this phrase, ensure the context genuinely reflects a situation where no other factors contribute significantly, as overstating dependence can weaken your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely exclusively on

Replaces "depend" with "rely" and "solely" with "exclusively", maintaining the meaning of complete reliance.

rest completely on

Suggests that the entire burden or responsibility is on the specified factor, equivalent to complete dependence.

turn entirely on

Similar to "hinge entirely on", emphasizing that the outcome is fully determined by the specified factor.

hinge entirely on

Substitutes "depend" with "hinge" and "solely" with "entirely", suggesting that something's outcome is completely determined by the specified factor.

exist entirely on

Emphasizes total dependence for sustenance or survival.

be determined exclusively by

Focuses on the aspect of determination, indicating that only one factor dictates the outcome.

be governed solely by

Emphasizes that the specified factor has complete control or influence.

be subject exclusively to

Highlights that something is only under the control or influence of the specified factor.

be contingent exclusively upon

Replaces the phrase with a more formal expression, emphasizing that something is conditional and completely reliant on a specific factor.

bank completely on

An informal expression that means to fully trust or rely on something.

FAQs

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

You can use "depend solely on" to show that one thing is completely reliant on another. For example, "The success of the project will depend solely on the team's dedication".

What are some alternatives to "depend solely on"?

Some alternatives include "rely exclusively on", "hinge entirely on", or "be contingent exclusively upon".

Is it more formal to say "depend solely on" or "rely solely on"?

"Depend solely on" and "rely solely on" are generally interchangeable in terms of formality. The choice often depends on personal preference or the surrounding wording.

What is the difference between "depend solely on" and "depend primarily on"?

"Depend solely on" indicates complete reliance, while "depend primarily on" suggests that something relies mostly, but not exclusively, on something else. The former allows for no other contributing factors, while the latter does.