rely to

USAGE SUMMARY

"rely to" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
The correct phrase would be "rely on." Example: "I rely on my best friend for support when I'm feeling overwhelmed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On whom does the nation rely to defend itself?

The New York Times - Books

We always rely to a large extent on voluntary compliance.

The Washington Post

Adding further financial uncertainty, we continue to rely to a greater extent on external research funding.

Stanford University

His wife, Mary Helen Hendricks, said: "We have to rely, to some extent, on the authorities.

The New York Times

Corn buyers rely to some extent on the honesty of farmers.

The New York Times

"Janesville has been left to rely to a considerable extent on its own resources," Goldstein concludes.

The New Yorker

NGOs rely to a large extent, although not exclusively, on foreign aid.

The Guardian

They rely to a large extent on what has worked in the past.

Harvard Business Review

From Day One, the Palestinian Authority has had to rely to a large extent on foreign help.

The New York Times

Traditional media like college newspapers, which rely to a varying degree on classified ads, may be threatened as well.

The New York Times - Tech

Performing surgery, treating infections and even travelling abroad safely all rely to some extent on access to effective antibiotics.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "rely on" instead of "rely to". This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid substituting "on" with "to" after "rely". The correct preposition is "on", maintaining standard English grammar. For example, write "I rely on you" not "I rely to you".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rely to" functions incorrectly as a verb phrase attempting to express dependence. As Ludwig AI points out, it's not a standard English construction; the correct form is "rely on".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "rely to" appears frequently across various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "rely on", as emphasized by Ludwig AI. This error is prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Academia. To ensure clear and correct communication, always substitute "rely to" with "rely on" or other alternatives like "depend on" or "count on". Using the correct preposition will significantly improve the quality and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely on

Uses the correct preposition "on" to express dependence.

depend on

Synonymous with "rely on", indicating reliance.

count on

Implies trust and expectation of support or action.

bank on

Suggests confidence in a particular outcome or support.

lean on

Emphasizes seeking emotional or practical support.

hinge on

Indicates that something is conditional or dependent on a specific factor.

rest on

Suggests a foundation or basis of support.

be contingent on

Formally expresses dependence on certain conditions.

place reliance on

Formally expresses the act of depending on something.

trust in

Highlights the aspect of having faith or confidence in something.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say I depend on something?

The correct way is to use "rely on" or "depend on". "Rely to" is grammatically incorrect.

Is "rely to" ever correct in a sentence?

No, "rely to" is not a grammatically correct phrase in English. The correct form is always "rely on".

What can I use instead of "rely to"?

Use "rely on", "depend on", or "count on" to express dependence correctly.

How do I avoid using "rely to" in my writing?

Always double-check your preposition after "rely". Ensure you're using "on" instead of "to". Practice using "rely on" in various sentences to reinforce the correct usage.