Dependent vs. Dependant

british vs american homophones

This time, we're jumping into these two confusing words. I know you feel confused right now, but don't worry. It'll be all over in a minute.

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both of these words refer to relying on something/someone else for support. However, its spelling differs based on its parts of speech. British people use 'dependant' as a noun and 'dependent' as an adjective, whereas, Americans use 'dependent' as both.

Differences

As stated above, their only difference is in their spellings. British English speakers use 'dependent' as an adjective and 'dependant' as a noun. Americans, however, use 'dependent' for both grammatical functions. Check out the following examples:

You have to decide whether you wanna remain dependent on dad or not.

I don't wanna continue living as a dependant of my mom.

Similarities

Both of these words are used to refer to the state of being supported by someone else. It can also be used to describe a person, too. Take a look at the following examples:

Being dependent doesn't mean that you're worthless.

Hailey used to be a dependant but look at her now.

Are They Interchangeable?

Most people use them interchangeably because they are completely the same. Compare:

✓ In the old days, most men felt powerful when their wives were dependent on them.

✓ In the old days, most men felt powerful when their wives were dependant on them.

Comments

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