heavy reliance

USAGE SUMMARY

"heavy reliance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
Example sentence: Our company has placed a heavy reliance on technology to improve efficiency.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Heavy reliance on case studies, technical literature, and discussion.

Stanford University

In this context, his heavy reliance on metaphor isn't surprising.

The New York Times - Books

Heavy reliance on scores to make educational decisions will continue.

The New York Times

And written it is, despite its heavy reliance on improvisation.

The New York Times - Arts

The heavy reliance on air strikes by N.A.T.O.

The New Yorker

In practice, these descriptions entail heavy reliance on computers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Heavy reliance on imported oil has proved economically perilous.

The New York Times - Science

Heavy reliance on female schmooze-fests can be counterproductive.

The New York Times

One key issue for PREPA: its heavy reliance on oil.

The Washington Post

Polls are certainly not the only surveys on which politicians and the media place heavy reliance.

The Guardian - Opinion

Poulenc's 1956 score, with its heavy reliance on woodwind and brass hues, reflects those conflicting currents.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "heavy reliance", consider quantifying the extent of the reliance to provide a clearer understanding, such as "heavy reliance (over 70%) on renewable energy sources."

Common error

Avoid using "heavy reliance" when a milder term like "moderate dependence" would be more accurate; assess the true degree of dependence before using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heavy reliance" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig shows that it often describes a significant dependence on something, like resources, strategies, or technologies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heavy reliance" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes a significant level of dependence. Ludwig's examples show its common usage in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. The phrase is considered neutral in register and serves to highlight the extent and implications of a particular dependence. While other alternatives exist, "heavy reliance" remains a direct and effective way to convey this concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strong dependence

Emphasizes the condition of being strongly reliant, highlighting the degree of dependence.

significant dependence

Implies a notable degree of reliance, suitable when emphasizing the importance of the dependency.

substantial dependence

Indicates a considerable amount of reliance, suggesting it is more than just moderate.

great dependence

Highlights the magnitude of the reliance, suggesting it plays a crucial role.

extensive dependence

Suggests the reliance is widespread or covers many aspects.

major dependence

Focuses on the primary or significant nature of the reliance.

marked dependence

Indicates the reliance is easily noticeable or distinct.

considerable dependence

Implies a degree of dependence that should not be ignored.

pronounced dependence

Suggests the reliance is very noticeable and clear.

undue dependence

Implies that the dependence is excessive or inappropriate.

FAQs

How can I use "heavy reliance" in a sentence?

You can use "heavy reliance" to describe a significant dependence on something. For example, "The company's success is due to its heavy reliance on innovation".

What are some alternatives to "heavy reliance"?

You can use alternatives like "strong dependence", "significant dependence", or "substantial dependence" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "heavy reliance on" or "heavy reliance of"?

"Heavy reliance on" is the correct and more commonly used preposition. "Heavy reliance of" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "heavy reliance" and "great dependence"?

While similar, "heavy reliance" emphasizes the weight or burden of the dependence, while "great dependence" simply highlights the large degree of dependence without necessarily implying a negative aspect.