had relied on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had relied on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a past dependence or trust in someone or something. Example: "She realized that she had relied on her friends for support during difficult times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But when she arrived in Sochi, the defence mechanisms she had relied on failed her.

BBC

Earlier machines had relied on reflected natural light.

Wikipedia

These results reveal that the rats had relied on visual cues to solve the task.

Behavioural Brain Research

I had relied on a report that was later corrected.

The New York Times

Despite the Solicitor General's view, Government prosecutors had relied on § 2114 outside of the postal context.

Cornell University

Previous flight tests had relied on a slower, less advanced interceptor.

The Washington Post

Traditionally the market had relied on taking companies over with highly leveraged deals.

The Economist

We put the new baby in the sky-blue minivan we had relied on for years.

The New Yorker

The Cardinal offense had relied on its power running game to get here.

The New York Times - Sports

Before the financial crisis, G.E. had relied on GE Capital for years to bolster its profits.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

When the economy soured, the construction jobs they had relied on dried up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had relied on" to describe past strategies or dependencies that have since changed, providing a historical perspective on a situation.

Common error

Avoid confusing "rely on" with "lie on". "Rely on" means to depend on something, while "lie on" refers to physically resting on a surface. Using the wrong preposition can significantly alter the sentence's meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had relied on" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating a state of dependence or trust that existed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had relied on" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect verb phrase that describes a past state of dependence or trust. As Ludwig AI confirms, its application spans across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. The phrase's versatility allows it to convey historical strategies, sources of support, or methods that were previously utilized. When writing with "had relied on", it's crucial to provide context to clarify the nature of the dependence and avoid confusion with similar-sounding phrases like "lie on".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had depended on

Emphasizes dependence for support or assistance.

had counted on

Highlights expectation and trust in a particular outcome or person.

had banked on

Suggests placing significant hope or trust in something.

had leaned on

Implies seeking emotional or practical support from someone or something.

had trusted in

Focuses on the aspect of having faith or confidence in something.

had placed confidence in

Formally expresses the act of trusting someone or something.

had put faith in

Emphasizes belief and trust in something's ability to deliver.

had been dependent on

States a condition of being reliant on someone or something for needs.

had taken for granted

Suggests an over-reliance to the point of not appreciating what was being relied upon.

had resorted to

Implies turning to something as a last option or necessity.

FAQs

How can I use "had relied on" in a sentence?

You can use "had relied on" to describe a past dependency. For instance, "The company had relied on overseas manufacturing, but now focuses on local production".

What's a more formal alternative to "had relied on"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "had depended on" or "had placed confidence in".

Is it always necessary to specify what was relied upon after using "had relied on"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying what was relied upon provides clarity and context to your statement. Without it, the sentence may lack meaning or be open to misinterpretation.

What's the difference between "had relied on" and "relies on"?

"Had relied on" indicates a past action or state, while "relies on" indicates a present action or state. For example, "The project had relied on previous funding" (past) versus "The project relies on current funding" (present).