varies upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"varies upon" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is most commonly used to indicate that something is dependent on a variety of conditions or factors. Example sentence: The size of the bonus payment varies upon the employee's performance over the course of the year.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The amount of financial support given to students through the fund varies upon need.

Columbia University

The flexible structure of graphene sheets and the strong interaction between graphene and Co3O4 particles are beneficial for providing excellent electronic conductivity, short transportation length for Li+ ions, and elastomeric space to accommodate volume varies upon Li+ insertion/extraction.

Materials Letters

The morphology of the products varies upon the reaction temperature.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It varies upon the order of the comparison matrix (Saaty 2000; Taha 2010).

Applied Water Science

The operation cost of the power systems varies upon different customer satisfaction levels.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

An individual's cyber credit is represented in a vector, C. The number of elements, denoted as n, in the vector varies upon different needs.

Financial Innovation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Please note that interview questions vary upon career field.

Cornell University

In addition, their cell volume did not vary upon the variation of the oxygen partial pressure.

Journal of Solid State Chemistry

Aspects of electrical conductivity changes were varied upon the type of contaminant.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

"The techniques vary upon the circumstances and the physical location of people involved," Mr. Stevens said The measure faces stiff opposition in the House.

The New York Times

"The level of activity will vary upon what it is and where it is, the quality and location," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "varies upon", ensure the sentence clearly specifies what factors influence the variation to provide context to your reader.

Common error

Do not use "varies upon" in vague contexts. Always specify the factors that cause the variation. Without explicit context, the phrase can leave the reader confused about what influences the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "varies upon" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating dependence or conditionality. It specifies that a particular characteristic or outcome is subject to change based on the conditions that follow the phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

Academia

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "varies upon" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that something changes or is dependent on specific conditions. While not as common as alternatives like "depends on", it is still valid, particularly in scientific and formal writing. According to Ludwig, its usability is confirmed and it's most effective when the factors influencing the variation are clearly stated. While "varies upon" may not be incorrect, it could lack clarity in certain contexts if not used with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depends on

More common and direct synonym, indicating a conditional relationship.

is contingent on

More formal, emphasizes conditionality and potential uncertainty.

is subject to

Highlights potential modifications or constraints based on a factor.

is determined by

Emphasizes the causal role of a specific element.

fluctuates with

Focuses on dynamic, reciprocal changes.

changes according to

A neutral alternative, indicating that alterations are systematic.

is influenced by

Highlights the external factors that can play a role in a change.

is a function of

Expresses a mathematical or functional dependence.

is relative to

It indicates a relationship where something is evaluated in comparison with something else.

is proportional to

Expresses a constant ratio between two quantities.

FAQs

How can I use "varies upon" in a sentence?

Use "varies upon" to show dependence. For example, "The cost varies upon the level of customization required."

What can I say instead of "varies upon"?

You can use alternatives like "depends on", "is contingent on", or "is subject to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "varies upon" or "depends on"?

Both phrases are correct, but "depends on" is far more common. "Varies upon" is less frequently used but still grammatically acceptable.

What's the difference between "varies upon" and "is influenced by"?

"Varies upon" indicates that something changes according to a factor, while "is influenced by" suggests that something is affected or modified by a factor, not necessarily a complete change.