totally depend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally depend" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "totally dependent." You can use "totally dependent" when describing a complete reliance on something or someone.
Example: "I am totally dependent on my morning coffee to start my day."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

"I totally depend on it," he said.

The New Yorker

"We cannot totally depend on Washington.

The New York Times

"The people here totally depend on aid," said Mathieu Kinde, project manager for Alima, the first non-governmental organisation to reach the town after it was freed from Boko Haram control.

The Guardian

"When I put my faith in up-and-coming talent and become their sponsor, I need to know I can totally depend on them — because they are, after all, walking around with my brand on".

The New York Times

The operation of this control system does not totally depend on communication.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Many of these factors cannot be predicted or measured since they totally depend on unpredictable causes.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

RK Totally depends.

The Guardian

I totally depended on Mandy.

The New York Times

We are totally depending on the sugar".

The Guardian

Totally depends on who you are.

The Guardian - Music

"It totally depends what condition he is in".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct grammatical form: "totally dependent" when describing a state of complete reliance.

Common error

Using "totally depend" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "totally dependent" or replace the phrase with alternatives like "completely rely" or "entirely depend".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally depend" functions as a verb phrase intended to express complete reliance, but it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the proper form is "totally dependent".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "totally depend" is commonly used to express complete reliance but is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "totally dependent". As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use the adjective form "totally dependent" or alternatives like "completely rely" or "entirely depend". While the phrase's intent is clear, especially in news, science, and business contexts, adhering to correct grammar enhances clarity and credibility. Therefore, always aim for the grammatically sound alternatives to ensure your writing is precise and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely rely

Emphasizes reliance without the grammatical issue present in the original phrase. It replaces "depend" with "rely" and "totally" with "completely".

utterly rely

Similar to 'completely rely', it stresses the extent of the reliance. Replaces "depend" with "rely" and "totally" with "utterly".

wholly rely

Similar to 'completely rely' and 'utterly rely', it stresses the extent of the reliance. Replaces "depend" with "rely" and "totally" with "wholly".

absolutely rely

Similar to 'completely rely' and 'utterly rely', it stresses the extent of the reliance. Replaces "depend" with "rely" and "totally" with "absolutely".

entirely depend

A direct synonym, replacing "totally" with "entirely" to maintain the same meaning while correcting grammar.

absolutely dependent

Corrects the grammar using the adjective form. Replaces "totally depend" with "absolutely dependent".

completely dependent

Emphasizes the state of dependence fully. Replaces "totally depend" with "completely dependent".

wholly dependent

Similar to 'completely dependent', it stresses the extent of dependence. Replaces "totally depend" with "wholly dependent".

utterly dependent

Similar to 'completely dependent' and 'wholly dependent', it stresses the extent of the dependence. Replaces "totally depend" with "utterly dependent".

fully rely

Similar to 'completely rely' and 'utterly rely', it stresses the extent of the reliance. Replaces "depend" with "rely" and "totally" with "fully".

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "totally depend"?

The grammatically correct phrase is "totally dependent". You can also use alternatives such as "completely rely" or "entirely depend".

Is it okay to use "totally depend" in spoken English?

While sometimes used informally, "totally depend" is grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "totally dependent" or rephrase your sentence for clearer communication.

What does "totally dependent" mean?

"Totally dependent" means completely relying on someone or something for support or assistance. It indicates a complete lack of independence.

Which is correct: "totally depend" or "totally dependent"?

"Totally dependent" is the grammatically correct form. "Totally depend" is not standard English.