Despite

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Despite" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a contrast or concession, often followed by a noun or gerund. Example: "Despite the rain, we decided to go for a hike."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative.

The Economist

The need to introduce residence permits to restrict access to public services and welfare benefits for new migrants stems from the simple fact that despite the Home Office's £800m "e-borders" project nobody's passport is stamped with the date they entered Britain.

The Guardian

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, said it was "ironic to say the least" that Russia produced the motion at the same time as it was "backing an all-out assault" in Ukraine despite the ceasefire.

The Guardian

That flight is only about half the price ($186), despite its being more than double the distance.

The New York Times - Magazine

At the time, players were allowed, but not required, to wear helmets, and most players chose to go helmet-less, despite the risk of severe head trauma.

The Economist

Despite the president's deliberate attempt to talk down the markets and the media's dramatic warnings of economic Armageddon posed by a mere 17% of the government remaining temporarily idle, the S&P 500 closed at a record high the day after the shutdown ended.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the time the war started, though, he was a country landowner, aged 48: despite his age, he was keen to be involved.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Despite the UK's improved performance recently, selling scripted formats to US broadcasters remains a high risk gamble.

The Guardian

Despite the extraordinary welling up of outrage around the Davis execution, prisoners have continued to be executed steadily over the past 12 months.

The Guardian

To date the politician – one of Greece's canniest operators – has managed to maintain approval ratings of close to 70% despite rolling back on almost every promise he has made.

The Guardian

If our movie memories weren't Hollywood-skewed, we'd think of Chronicle of the Years of Embers as a classic but, despite winning the Palme d'or in Cannes in 1975, Mohammad Lakhdar-Hamina's film has fallen into the shadows.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Despite", ensure that the contrasting elements are clear to maintain the sentence's logical flow. For example: "Despite the challenges, the project succeeded."

Common error

Avoid using "Despite" when there is no genuine contrasting element in the sentence. A sentence like "Despite the weather, I went outside" is only effective if the weather was expected to prevent outdoor activities.

Linguistic Context

"Despite" functions as a preposition indicating concession or contrast. It introduces a noun phrase or gerund, setting up a situation that would typically prevent the main action from occurring. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the preposition "Despite" is a versatile and frequently used term to introduce a contrast or concession. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely employed across various registers, predominantly in news and media. It's crucial to use "Despite" to set up a situation that contrasts with the main clause or outcome. Common alternatives include "in spite of", "notwithstanding", and "regardless of". Using "Despite" correctly enhances clarity and adds depth to writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In spite of

Synonymous; offers a direct substitution for expressing contrast.

Despite the fact that

More verbose but explicitly introduces a factual statement.

Notwithstanding

A more formal alternative that also indicates something happens even if there is something that might prevent it.

Regardless of

Emphasizes that something occurs without being affected by something else.

Even though

Introduces a clause that contrasts with the main clause.

Although

Similar to 'even though', but can be slightly less emphatic.

Even if

Indicates a condition that does not change the outcome.

With all that

Implies consideration of something significant that does not prevent a certain result.

For all that

Similar to 'with all that', emphasizing a non-preventative factor.

Against the backdrop of

Suggests a scenario in which an event unfolds in contrast to the prevailing circumstances.

FAQs

How is "Despite" used in a sentence?

"Despite" is a preposition used to show contrast or contradiction. For example, "Despite the rain, they enjoyed the picnic."

What phrases are similar to "Despite"?

Phrases similar to "Despite" include "in spite of", "notwithstanding", and "regardless of". These alternatives also introduce contrasting elements.

Is it correct to say "Despite of"?

No, "despite of" is incorrect. The correct form is simply "Despite". The phrase "in spite of" is correct, but "despite" does not require the "of".

What's the difference between "Although" and "Despite"?

"Although" introduces a clause, while "Despite" introduces a noun or gerund phrase. For example, "Although it rained, we went out" (clause) vs. "Despite the rain, we went out" (noun phrase).