depend wholly on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "depend wholly on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing complete reliance or trust in something or someone. Example: "In this project, we will depend wholly on the expertise of our consultants to guide us through the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

According to Leibniz, (a) modal truths and modal truth-makers depend wholly on God's intellectual activities and (b) the form of dependence is ontological and does not involve efficient causation.

SEP

For example, female gypsy moths, which are flightless despite having fully developed wings, and female bagworms, which do not have wings, depend wholly on the power of their sexual odour to attract a mate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And critics and supporters alike say some companies depend wholly on the program's requirements to get jobs, and have no plans to expand so that they no longer qualify for government help.

The New York Times

Ms. Harris, Mr. Kennedy and other scholars agreed that the reaction to provocative museum acquisitions like the guard tower depend wholly on the explanation and context provided by curators — something the public will not be able to view until the museum opens in 2015.

The New York Times - Arts

These studies have also found that rural households with the ability to diversify their income sources to other non-farm activities tend to perform better economically than those that depend wholly on farm activities or those that take up non-farm activities as a coping strategy.

Pastoralism

While some would suggest that if he chooses to shoot one, his responsibility is limited by virtue of being justified; one might suggest that either course Jim takes, he should be relieved of responsibility for any of the consequences on grounds that the consequences that become attached to his decision depend wholly on the will of someone else who attaches them.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She had no access to food and depended wholly on food aid.

The Guardian

She depended wholly on Paul and assorted friends for care and supervision.

The New Yorker

A recurring joke about a Welsh porn actress depends wholly on the (negligible) comic clout of the word "cock".

The Guardian

His belief in his own value is delusional and his success depends wholly on the efforts of those beneath him.

The Guardian - Film

The effectiveness of Malik's own colossal commercial depends wholly on the majestic orchestration of disquietingly threadbare glamour.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "depend wholly on" when you want to emphasize complete reliance on a single factor or entity. It adds a tone of certainty and exclusivity to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "depend wholly on" when the reliance is only partial or significant, as it can exaggerate the level of dependence and mislead your audience. Ensure the context truly reflects a complete and exclusive reliance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depend wholly on" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of complete reliance. It specifies that the subject's outcome, existence, or operation is entirely contingent on a single factor or entity. Ludwig AI validates this through examples highlighting its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "depend wholly on" signifies a complete and exclusive reliance on a particular factor. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and used across various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like ""rely entirely on"" and ""depend entirely on"" exist, "depend wholly on" emphasizes the completeness of the dependence. Be cautious not to overstate reliance when it is only partial. The choice to use "depend wholly on" should be driven by a desire to clearly and emphatically convey complete dependency in a given situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely entirely on

Emphasizes complete reliance, similar to "depend wholly on", but with a slightly more formal tone.

depend entirely on

Highlights the complete nature of dependence, synonymous with the original phrase.

rely completely on

Indicates a complete reliance, closely mirroring the meaning of "depend wholly on".

hinge entirely on

Suggests that the outcome or success is completely determined by something.

be contingent solely on

Formal and emphasizes that something is conditional and exclusively dependent on another factor.

turn exclusively to

Implies seeking assistance or support from only one source.

rest entirely upon

Indicates that the entire weight or burden is supported by something else.

bank completely on

Suggests placing full trust and expectation on something.

be at the mercy of

Highlights a vulnerable state of complete dependence, often implying a lack of control.

be predicated entirely on

Formal and indicates that something is based completely on a specific foundation.

FAQs

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

You can use "depend wholly on" to indicate complete reliance. For example, "The success of this project will "depend wholly on" the team's dedication."

What are some alternatives to "depend wholly on"?

Alternatives include "rely entirely on", "depend entirely on", or "hinge entirely on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Rely entirely on" and "depend wholly on" are generally interchangeable in terms of formality. However, "depend" might be perceived as slightly more common in academic or formal writing.

What's the difference between "depend on" and "depend wholly on"?

"Depend on" indicates a general reliance, while ""depend wholly on"" emphasizes complete and exclusive reliance, leaving no room for other factors.