hinges on if

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hinges on if" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is dependent on a specific condition, but the correct expression would be "hinges on whether." Example: "The success of the project hinges on whether we can secure the necessary funding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We're hopeful for next year, but it hinges on if we get a profit for this year".

The New York Times

Of course, this all hinges on if HP manages to complete the purchase of Palm, but I think we'll be seeing WebOS based Slate systems in the near future.

TechCrunch

Thus, the potential for guppies to have increased color sensitivity and/or discrimination seemingly hinges on if, and to what extent, these 'extra opsins' are expressed in the retina.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr Greenfield says a digital "dream world" that provides "one seamless experience of being immersed in information" hinges on one big if: computers and their interfaces must become so good that, like electricity, they rarely require concentrated attention.

The Economist

"If it hinges on one vote," Mr. Traficant said, "they better get me convicted because I will vote for Hastert.

The New York Times

"There was a concern Disney was putting all of its eggs in one basket — everything was hinging on if the company could make a successful new 'Star Wars' film.

Los Angeles Times

| Chase vote may hinge on director.

The New York Times

In the end, however, the site's success will ultimately hinge on if users like, dislike or skip it entirely.

TechCrunch

Talks between the N.H.L. and the International Olympic Committee over whether the league will send its players next year to Sochi, Russia, hinge on one overarching issue: if the I.O.C. grants the N.H.L. concessions for shutting down its business at midseason, other leagues that send players to the Olympics may ask for the same.

The New York Times - Sports

Experiments on real data demonstrate that, not surprisingly, success hinges on the domain: if a few attributes can support good predictions, users generate accurate classifiers, whereas domains with many high-order attribute interactions favour standard machine learning techniques.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

This is where you peruse the services, any following negotiation with a girl hinges on her consent: "If you want anything a bit more kinky, you need to discuss it with each lady individually.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "if" with "whether" after "hinges on" for grammatical accuracy. For example, use "The decision hinges on whether we secure funding" instead of "The decision hinges on if we secure funding".

Common error

Avoid using "if" directly after "hinges on". "Hinges on" indicates a dependency that requires the condition to be expressed as "whether" something is the case, not merely "if" a condition exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hinges on if" attempts to express that a particular outcome or situation is conditional upon a specific event or condition. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect. The correct form should be "hinges on whether."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "hinges on if" aims to express conditionality, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct phrasing is "hinges on whether". Although examples exist in various sources, including news and scientific publications, adhering to the grammatically correct form is essential for clear and professional communication. Alternatives such as "depends on whether" can enhance clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depends on whether

Replaces "if" with "whether" for grammatical correctness and clarity.

hinges on whether

Substitutes "if" with "whether" to ensure proper grammatical structure.

is dependent on whether

Indicates a clear dependency, substituting 'if' with the more grammatically sound 'whether'.

turns on whether

Emphasizes that the outcome critically depends on a specific condition, replacing 'if' with 'whether'.

is contingent on whether

Emphasizes conditionality with a more formal tone and uses "whether" for grammatical accuracy.

is reliant on whether

Focuses on the reliance upon a specific condition, using 'whether' for grammatical correctness.

is subject to if

Highlights the dependency on a condition being met, retaining "if" while sounding less awkward.

is conditional on if

Similar to 'is subject to if' but emphasizes the conditional nature more directly while keeping 'if'.

is determined by if

Highlights that the outcome is decided by a specific condition remaining "if".

is predicated on if

Highlights the foundational dependence on a specific condition retaining "if".

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "hinges on" in a sentence?

The phrase "hinges on" should be followed by a noun phrase or a clause introduced by "whether", not "if". For example, "The project's success hinges on adequate funding" or "The project's success hinges on whether we can secure adequate funding" are correct.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hinges on if"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. The correct usage is "hinges on whether". The word "whether" introduces a clause that presents two alternatives, which is necessary for the conditionality that "hinges on" implies. You can also rephrase the sentence to use "depends on".

What can I use instead of "hinges on if" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, replace "hinges on if" with "depends on whether", "is contingent on whether", or "is dependent on whether". These alternatives provide grammatical correctness and a more formal tone.

Can you give me an example of how to correctly use the phrase "hinges on"?

A correct example is: "The company's future hinges on its ability to adapt to the changing market conditions". Another example is: "The outcome of the negotiation hinges on whether both parties are willing to compromise".