dependant upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'dependant upon' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is contingent upon or determined by something else. For example: The outcome of the election will be dependant upon the number of people who turn up to vote.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Results showed that the resulting pore structure is strongly dependent upon the freezing temperature and less dependant upon the freezing time.

Carbohydrate Polymers

Whether ties would be honoured was dependant upon the logistics of the draw.

The Guardian - Sport

The animals and the environment are mutually dependant upon each other.

The Guardian - Opinion

Solicitors and barristers have bills to pay, and when dependant upon legal aid scales they just cannot manage.

The Guardian

But across America federal outposts have also felt the squeeze, particularly in the many rural, local economies dependant upon national parks.

The Guardian

The classification of Nagios is dependant upon its configuration.

Journal of Cloud Computing

This shows that the factor is probably dependant upon the region.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Therapeutic success in these poisonings is mainly dependant upon symptomatic and supportive care.

EMC - Toxicologie-Pathologie

Timely healing, a precondition for minimal scarring, is dependant upon optimal wound bed preparation.

Injury

On the other hand, performance is highly dependant upon the dryer setpoint.

Journal of Food Engineering

The resulting mineralogy is dependant upon the characteristics of the original feedstock and the calcination temperatures.

Cement and Concrete Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dependant upon", ensure that the relationship of dependence is clear to the reader. Specify what is relying on what to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "dependant upon" in situations where a simpler preposition like "on" or "in" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dependant upon" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb, noun, or clause. It indicates a relationship of dependence or conditionality, showing that one thing is contingent on another. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is indeed valid for use in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dependant upon" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is contingent on or reliant upon something else. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. While "dependant upon" is fairly common, more modern alternatives like ""contingent on"" or "reliant on" may be preferable in contemporary writing. Its usage is most prominent in scientific, news, and business contexts. While grammatically acceptable, bear in mind that other alternatives exist and can make your content simpler.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contingent on

Expresses a similar conditional relationship, but is more concise.

reliant on

Focuses on the act of relying on something, highlighting the dependence.

conditional upon

Emphasizes the presence of specific conditions that must be met.

subject to

Highlights the idea of being under the influence or control of something else.

determined by

Indicates that something is definitively decided or shaped by a particular factor.

hinges on

Suggests that the outcome is critically dependent on a single, key element.

based on

Implies that something is founded or constructed upon a specific foundation or principle.

governed by

Indicates that something is controlled or regulated by a set of rules or principles.

resting on

Suggests that the stability or validity of something is supported by a particular element.

predicated on

Similar to 'based on' but implies a more formal or logical foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "dependant upon" in a sentence?

Use "dependant upon" to show that something relies on or is determined by something else. For example, "The success of the project is "contingent on" the weather conditions".

What can I say instead of "dependant upon"?

You can use alternatives like "reliant on", "conditional upon", or "subject to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dependant upon" or "dependent on"?

"Dependant upon" is considered archaic. The modern and more widely accepted form is "dependent on".

What's the difference between "dependant upon" and "based on"?

"Dependant upon" implies a stronger reliance or contingency, while "based on" suggests a foundation or starting point. For example, a grade might be "dependant upon" test scores but a theory is "based on" evidence.