Dependent On vs. Dependent Upon records both Cambridge-supported forms for the contingent sense without treating upon as an error or inventing a universal register rule.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Both dependent on and dependent upon are documented for the contingent or “decided by” sense.
Key details
Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyconstruction choice
Termsdependent on, dependent upon
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge explicitly lists the phrase as dependent on/upon something when an outcome is influenced or decided by another factor.
Style Boundary
Use either documented form when the contingent sense is intended; do not confuse this with the separate noun-spelling question dependant/dependent.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Agree With vs. Agree On separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Angry With vs. Angry About separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Appropriate For vs. Appropriate To separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Available To vs. Available For separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Be Bound To Do vs. Bound For Somewhere separates two distinct Oxford-documented senses. Bound to do/be expresses certainty or likelihood, while bound for + destination describes travel toward a place. The guide keeps those senses separate from legal or duty-bound uses.
Be Elated To Do vs. Elated By Something compares two directly documented complement patterns for “elated.” Oxford evidence supports an infinitival use as well as elated at/by + noun phrase, so the guide explains the construction choice without generalizing from synonyms.
