it depends whether

USAGE SUMMARY

"it depends whether" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are referring to the conditional nature of something, i.e. whether or not an event or action is dependent on another event or action. For example: "It depends whether the boss approves the company's budget increase before we can hire a new employee."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health Economics Review

The New York Times

The Guardian

The Washington Post

Independent

BBC

TechCrunch

HuffPost

Vice

WikiHow

Wikipedia

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Forbes

The New Yorker

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Higher dependency ratio, divorce rate and female labor participation increase suicides but it depends whether we are looking at the aggregate variable or the gender split cases.

Health Economics Review

It depends whether the sun is shining.

The New York Times

"It depends whether the market turns".

The New York Times

It depends whether one prefers short stories or novels.

The Guardian - Books

It depends whether I'm re-elected in May.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It depends whether they are happy to select me without having bowled in a match.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It depends on whether guests come back".

The New York Times

It depends on whether the Palestinians seize it.

The New York Times

It depends on whether your neighbor can positively identify him".

The New York Times

It depends on whether the fire happens again.

The New Yorker

It depends on whether the cannibals are hungry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it depends whether" to introduce a condition that influences a particular outcome or decision. This clarifies that the result is not fixed and relies on specific circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "it depends whether" without clearly stating what factors the outcome depends on. Providing specific conditions makes your statement more informative and avoids ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it depends whether" functions as a connector, introducing a conditional clause. It indicates that a particular outcome or result is contingent on a specific condition being met. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase points to the conditional nature of an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it depends whether" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent phrase used to express that an outcome is conditional. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It functions as a connector, introducing a clause specifying the condition influencing the result. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it's essential to clearly articulate what factors the outcome depends on to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "it hinges on whether" or "it's contingent on whether" can provide nuanced variations. This phrase is very common across diverse contexts, especially in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it hinges on whether

Uses "hinges on" to emphasize the critical dependence on a specific condition.

it's contingent on whether

Replaces "depends" with "contingent", indicating a conditional relationship.

it's conditional on whether

Emphasizes the conditional nature using "conditional" instead of "depends".

it turns on whether

Uses "turns on" to suggest that the outcome is determined by a specific factor.

the outcome relies on whether

Focuses on the result's dependence using "relies on" instead of "depends".

success is subject to whether

Highlights that success is conditional based on if something is true or not.

it's a question of whether

Frames the situation as a question, emphasizing the uncertainty until the condition is met.

that is determined by whether

Highlights that the outcome is determined.

the decision rests on whether

Emphasizes that the decision made depends on something.

the answer is bound to whether

Indicates that the answer depends on the fulfillment of a particular thing.

FAQs

How can I use "it depends whether" in a sentence?

Use "it depends whether" to introduce a condition influencing an outcome. For example, "The project's success, "it depends whether" we secure the necessary funding."

What are some alternatives to "it depends whether"?

Alternatives include "it hinges on whether", "it's contingent on whether", or "it turns on whether", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "it depends whether"?

Yes, "it depends whether" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express conditional outcomes. Ludwig AI also confirms its correctness.

What's the difference between "it depends whether" and "it depends on"?

"It depends whether" introduces a clause specifying a condition, while "it depends on" is followed by a noun or noun phrase. For example, "It depends on the weather" versus ""it depends whether" it rains."