| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| dependent (adj., n.), dependant (n.) |
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| The adjective is always spelled dependent and means “hanging from, contingent on, relying on or supported by, or addicted to”: The necklace has a large diamond with several smaller ones dependent from its setting. I am wholly dependent on my father’s monthly check. He is said to be drug-dependent. In American English the noun is nearly always spelled dependent too, as in He declared three dependents on his tax form, although occasionally you will see the noun spelled the British way, dependant. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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