dependent solely on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dependent solely on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something relies exclusively on a particular factor or condition. Example: "The success of the project is dependent solely on the team's ability to collaborate effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Outcast, illiterate and brainwashed, they become dependent solely on their guns.If the American-and British-backed intervention force is defeated, no one will recognise an RUF government, but no one has the stomach for a military intervention to drive it out.

The Economist

Dependent solely on subscription, HBO can take great creative risk.

The Guardian

We are a lower middle-class family, dependent solely on his income".

The Guardian - Sport

The visit also allowed Mr. Maliki to make the case that his country was no longer dependent solely on the Americans.

The New York Times

These contractors had no employment protections, such as redundancy payouts, and many were dependent solely on income from City Link.

Independent

"But the entrepreneurial community, the tech community that Groupon is part of, is not dependent solely on Groupon," Mr. Sacks said.

The New York Times

It is the most populous Arab country and, because it is not dependent solely on oil, offers a bigger menu to investors.

The Economist

So long as Tom Ridge, the director of homeland security, is dependent solely on his personal relationship with the president, he will never have the authority required to guarantee bureaucratic response.

The New York Times

The glycolytic enzymes of trypanosomes are attractive drug targets, since the blood-stream form of Trypanosoma brucei lacks a functional citric acid cycle and is dependent solely on glycolysis for its energy requirements.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

She's completely dependent and fed solely on royal jelly, which workers excrete from a gland in their chest.

Huffington Post

"I was solely dependent on this one person, and it was a horrible way to live," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dependent solely on", ensure that the context genuinely reflects a single point of dependency. Overstating the dependency can weaken your argument if other factors are subtly involved.

Common error

Avoid using "dependent solely on" when other contributing factors exist, even if they seem minor. Acknowledge these influences to maintain credibility and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dependent solely on" functions as a postpositive adjective phrase, modifying a noun or noun phrase to indicate that its state or outcome is exclusively determined by a single factor. Ludwig examples support this grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

38%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dependent solely on" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to emphasize that a particular outcome or characteristic is exclusively determined by a single factor. It finds frequent application in scientific, news media, and academic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples demonstrating its proper usage. When incorporating this phrase into your writing, ensure that the context accurately reflects a single point of dependency and acknowledge secondary influences to bolster credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reliant exclusively on

Emphasizes the exclusive nature of the reliance, similar to "dependent solely on".

contingent entirely upon

Highlights the conditional aspect of the dependence, suggesting that something's outcome depends entirely on something else.

predicated entirely on

Suggests that the existence or validity of something is based completely on a specific condition.

based exclusively upon

Focuses on the foundation or basis being exclusively one thing.

determined exclusively by

Highlights that the only factor that influences the outcome is one precise thing.

governed completely by

Indicates that a single factor exerts full control over something's behavior or outcome.

subject exclusively to

Points out that only one condition or entity has power or jurisdiction.

hinges entirely on

Emphasizes that the outcome dramatically pivots only on one sole factor.

rests completely with

Indicates the full responsibility or deciding power lies with a single entity.

accountable uniquely to

Stresses that the sole duty or obligation is to one thing only.

FAQs

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

Use "dependent solely on" to indicate that a particular outcome, result, or characteristic is determined exclusively by one factor. For example: "The experiment's success is "dependent solely on" maintaining a consistent temperature."

What are some alternatives to "dependent solely on"?

You can use alternatives such as "reliant exclusively on", "contingent entirely upon", or "based exclusively upon" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "dependent solely on" or "dependent primarily on"?

"Dependent solely on" suggests a single determining factor, whereas "dependent primarily on" indicates a major but not exclusive factor. Choose the phrase that most accurately reflects the relationship between the subject and the influencing factor.

What's the difference between "dependent solely on" and "unrelated to"?

"Dependent solely on" implies a strong causal relationship, while "unrelated to" suggests the absence of any relationship. They are near opposites. Consider the example: "The plant's growth is "dependent solely on" sunlight", versus "The plant's growth is unrelated to soil type".