vitally depend on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vitally depend on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the critical importance of reliance on something or someone. Example: "The success of the project will vitally depend on the team's ability to collaborate effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Milner also delves deep into the dense web of intersections between GPS – "the world's only free utility" – and all those other utilities we vitally depend on, with interesting side excursions into earthquake-detection and the GPS-assisted monitoring of offenders.

The Guardian - Books

This is a race where we all have stakes but those at higher risk of human rights abuse vitally depend on it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Kronman defends an ancient conception of God, deepened and transformed by Christian belief the born-again paganism on which modern science, art, and politics all vitally depend.

Yale University

With contributions from an international team of experts, this volume synthesizes the scientific literature of holistic practices in ecosystem-based management (EBM), focusing on protecting the marine ecologies that humans and countless other organisms vitally depend upon.

Harvard University

One key reason is that the birds, during their northward migration, stop off in Delaware Bay in May and dine on the buried eggs of horseshoe crabs – a food source upon which they vitally depend.

The Guardian

Most bird species in urban parks depend on native plant community due to their selective dietary and nesting needs and are vitally affected by invasion of exotic plant community.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

I depend on them".

The New York Times

Many depend on imports.

The Economist

"You depend on it.

The New York Times - Science

Or depend on him.

The New York Times

"We depend on tourism".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vitally depend on" when you want to emphasize the crucial and indispensable nature of the reliance. This phrase is suitable for both formal and semi-formal contexts where the consequences of lacking that reliance are significant.

Common error

Avoid using "vitally depend on" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "rely on" or "need" are more appropriate in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vitally depend on" functions as a verb phrase emphasizing critical reliance. According to Ludwig, it is used to indicate that something is absolutely essential for another thing to function or exist. Ludwig's examples demonstrate how this phrase underscores the indispensable nature of the relationship.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vitally depend on" is a verb phrase used to emphasize a critical and indispensable reliance. As confirmed by Ludwig, it signifies that one element is absolutely essential for another's proper function or existence. Although grammatically correct, its use is relatively rare. It is mostly found in academic, news, and formal contexts, highlighting important dependencies. When using this phrase, ensure that the level of formality aligns with the intended audience. For more informal situations, consider using alternatives such as "rely on" or "need".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critically rely on

Emphasizes the critical nature of the reliance, suggesting potential failure without it.

essentially depend on

Highlights the fundamental and indispensable nature of the dependence.

heavily rely on

Indicates a substantial degree of dependence, focusing on the magnitude of reliance.

fundamentally depend on

Stresses the foundational aspect of the dependence.

strongly depend on

Emphasizes the strength and importance of the dependence.

necessarily depend on

Suggests that the dependence is unavoidable and required.

are reliant on

Uses a different grammatical structure to express dependence.

hinge upon

Implies that everything is contingent on the specified element.

rest on

Suggests a foundational reliance, where the outcome is supported by the base.

turn on

Indicates that the outcome or success is conditional on a specific factor.

FAQs

What does "vitally depend on" mean?

The phrase "vitally depend on" means that something is absolutely essential or necessary; without it, something else cannot function or exist properly. It emphasizes the crucial importance of the reliance.

When is it appropriate to use "vitally depend on" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "vitally depend on" in formal and semi-formal writing when you want to emphasize the critical importance of a reliance. It is often found in academic, scientific, or professional contexts where precision and emphasis are key. Overusing it in informal conversations might sound unnatural.

What are some alternatives to "vitally depend on"?

You can use alternatives like "critically rely on", "essentially depend on", or "heavily rely on" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How does "vitally depend on" differ from simply saying "depend on"?

Adding "vitally" intensifies the dependence. While "depend on" indicates a general reliance, "vitally depend on" stresses that the reliance is crucial and indispensable. The use of "vitally" adds significance to the statement, implying that a failure in the reliance would have serious consequences.