vary on which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vary on which" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to express variability based on certain criteria or conditions, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The results may vary based on which method is used in the experiment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It is clearly related to New York salsa, though sources vary on which dance was a response to the other.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is Warren's show, and he thinks they are all evenly balanced contests, but concedes that opinions vary on which fight represents the pick of the bunch.

Independent

However the Council is composed to represent the EU's states rather than political parties and the nature of coalition governments in a number of states means that individual configurations would vary on which domestic party was assigned the portfolio.

Wikipedia

Different published meta-analyses on the same age group and type of vaccine may reach different conclusions, because they vary on which trials they include or exclude.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

The first is that there is no consensus on how to define a complication; in other words, opinions vary on which types of event should be considered complications.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

Available data also vary on which specific cadres (particularly lab technicians, pharmacy staff, administrative and data management staff and certain patient support personnel), were included in overall programme HRH needs.

Human Resources for Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

As patients could have had six to eight treatment sessions, and as treatments could have varied on which week they occurred, these data are somewhat statistically unbalanced.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The particular targets vary depending on which ones are expressed in a particular cell type.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

Symptoms vary depending on which organ or organs are affected.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The results may vary depending on which modem and modem driver are installed on your computer.

The New York Times - Tech

The software will vary depending on which brand of music player you purchase.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "vary on which" might be understood, it's better to use more common and grammatically correct alternatives like "depend on which" or "vary depending on which" for clarity and better reception.

Common error

Avoid using "on" directly after "vary". The correct usage generally involves "depending on" or "based on" to show the relationship between the variation and the influencing factor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vary on which" attempts to indicate a conditional relationship where something changes or differs based on a specific choice or factor. However, Ludwig AI points out that it is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

28%

News & Media

23%

Wiki

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "vary on which" appears in various contexts, including science, news, and wiki articles, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI highlights that it's better to use alternatives such as "depend on which" or "vary depending on which" to express conditionality clearly and correctly. Choosing grammatically sound alternatives enhances clarity and credibility in writing, making your message more effectively understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depend on which

Replaces "vary" with "depend", indicating that the outcome is contingent upon a specific choice.

differ based on which

Substitutes "vary" with "differ" and "on" with "based on", emphasizing the foundation for the variation.

change according to which

Uses "change according to" instead of "vary on", suggesting a transformation that aligns with a selection.

is contingent upon which

Replaces "vary" with "is contingent upon", highlighting the dependency on a particular condition.

hinge on which

Suggests that the result or outcome pivots on a specific choice or factor.

be subject to which

Indicates that the outcome is conditional and depends on a specific item

rely on which

The degree of change is determined in something, highlighting the dependency on a particular element.

be affected by which

Substitutes "vary" with "be affected by" suggesting that something will be influenced on the dependance of a selected item.

pivot on which

Focuses on the central importance of a certain item

turn on which

Uses "turn on" to highlight a decision on the dependance of a certain item

FAQs

What can I say instead of "vary on which"?

You can use alternatives like "depend on which", or "vary depending on which" depending on the context. These alternatives are more grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Is it grammatically correct to use "vary on which"?

No, the phrase "vary on which" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "depend on which" or "differ based on which".

How can I use "vary depending on which" in a sentence?

You can say, "The results may vary depending on which method is used." This clarifies that the variation in results is conditional on the chosen method.

What's the difference between "vary on which" and "vary depending on which"?

While "vary on which" is grammatically incorrect, "vary depending on which" is a correct and clear way to express that something changes based on a particular factor or choice. It adds clarity and precision to your writing.