How to use "dependent on chance"

What Does "dependent on chance" Mean?

• The phrase "dependent on chance" signifies that the outcome or result of something is significantly influenced or determined by luck, randomness, or unpredictable factors rather than skill, planning, or certainty.
• The meaning is compositional. Each word contributes its individual meaning to the overall phrase. "Dependent" implies reliance, and "chance" refers to the element of randomness.
• The register is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: Adjective + Preposition + Noun
• Typical usage involves describing a situation, process, or outcome as being heavily influenced by random factors. The phrase often appears with verbs like "be," "become," or "is/are/were." It's also frequently followed by clauses explaining the implications of this dependence.
• The components cannot be separated. The phrase must stay together to retain its meaning.
• What sounds unnatural: Substituting the preposition 'on' with 'of', 'with', or 'by' is incorrect. Using synonyms for 'dependent' that don't convey reliance (e.g., 'related to chance').

Real-World Examples

"Originally, genetic analysis depended on mutations occurring accidentally, but during the last two decades researchers have become less dependent on chance as reverse genetic approaches using targeted gene knock-out strategies have been used to study gene function in the mouse [1]." — Plosone

"It was, in fact, the movie which introduced us most fully to Allen's very serious obsession with death: how fleeting life is, how dependent on chance, and how overshadowed it is by the thought of its approaching end." — The Guardian - Film

"Even those coincidences start to contribute to a cleverly nuanced point about how much of the system we assume to be inscribed in stone is actually dependent on chance and individual fortune." — The Guardian - Books

"However, the main aim is not simply to achieve the highest score, especially because the result will be fundamentally dependent on chance and not on special skills of the players, but to exercise students' knowledge on important aspects about the role of random processes in molecular evolution." — Evolution: Education and Outreach

"Since endomyocardial biopsy is guided by fluoroscopy and not by direct observation, whether or not the biopsied specimens are obtained from the inflamed areas and exhibit histological inflammatory changes is dependent on chance." — European Journal of Heart Failure

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/dependent+on+chance

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
subject to chance	Similar meaning, slightly more formal.
rely on luck	More informal, emphasizes the element of luck.
hinge on fate	Implies a predetermined outcome, often used in a dramatic context.
contingent on randomness	More formal and academic, highlights the unpredictable nature.
determined by luck	Focuses on luck as the deciding factor.
at the mercy of fate	Suggests a lack of control over the outcome.
governed by chance	Implies that randomness is the primary influence.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "dependent of chance," "dependent with chance"). The correct preposition is 'on'.
• Choosing a synonym for 'dependent' that does not accurately convey the meaning of reliance or conditional relationship.
• Attempting to separate the phrase, which disrupts its meaning and grammatical structure.

Learners often make mistakes with the preposition, incorrectly using 'of' or 'with' instead of 'on'.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
dependent on chance	Determined by luck or randomness	Adjective + Preposition + Noun	Neutral

FAQs

Can the words in "dependent on chance" be separated, or must they always stay together?

The phrase "dependent on chance" is a fixed expression and should not be separated. While you can insert modifying words around it (e.g., "highly dependent on chance"), breaking the core phrase apart will alter or negate its intended meaning.

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How is "dependent on chance" different from "relying on luck"?

While both phrases convey a similar idea, "dependent on chance" is slightly more formal and general. "Relying on luck" specifically emphasizes the act of trusting in good fortune, while "dependent on chance" can describe a situation where outcomes are simply governed by randomness, whether one is actively hoping for luck or not.

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What's the correct preposition to use with "dependent," and what's a common mistake?

The correct preposition to use with "dependent" in this context is "on." A common mistake is using "of" or "with" instead (e.g., "dependent of chance"). Remember that the phrase is "dependent on chance."