Notwithstanding the difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Notwithstanding the difficulties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or acknowledges challenges while emphasizing a positive outcome or action. Example: "Notwithstanding the difficulties, the team managed to complete the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Notwithstanding the difficulties in the design process, we're prepared to compensate Libeskind fully for the time that he and his staff put onto working on the Freedom Tower".

The New York Times - Arts

Notwithstanding the difficulties faced in ensuring NSAGs' compliance with humanitarian law, there is growing support for the application of international human rights law to situations of armed conflict, which will be explained in the following section.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

Notwithstanding the difficulties in defining and measuring quality in HE, there does not appear to be any empirical evidence that supports the assertion that the use of digital technologies improves quality; indeed there are indications that if poorly implemented, they may instead have a detrimental impact on students' learning.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Notwithstanding the difficulties in assessing the extent to which the on-going dwindling of foreign exchange reserves will result in individual emerging economies becoming too vulnerable, one can expect a relative weakening vis-à-vis the ascent phase until mid-2014.

HuffPost

Notwithstanding the difficulties of teasing apart population size and selection effects on rates of evolution (see above), this is most likely due to the relatively small number of mutational events that occur between closely related samples, making it difficult to achieve a statistically significant number of nucleotide mutations between sequences.

Plosone

Notwithstanding the difficulties, it is important to maintain continuity of care for long-term conditions as it can lead to fewer complications and be more cost-effective [ 2].

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Notwithstanding the difficulty of defining its 'concentration' in serum73, as most of it is bound to macromolecules, it is known that in type 1 diabetes the serum load of endotoxin (LPS) is raised relative to that of controls86, and that this is associated with disease progression87.

Nature

Notwithstanding the difficulty of an organization to classify itself as an "affiliate entity" of LSC, Gozdor argued that there was no real prevention of speech when there were ample alternative means of relaying the message.

Wikipedia

Notwithstanding the difficulty of assessing the generality of the results, due to the fragmentary knowledge about the complete set of cellular LMs, distinct evolutionary patterns were identified.

Plosone

Notwithstanding the difficulty of obtaining primary effectors in large quantities from tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, the present study shows that anti-4-1BB has a much more substantial effect on enhancing granzyme B expression in reactivated memory T cells as compared to its minimal effect on primary effectors (Fig. 4F).

Plosone

Notwithstanding the difficulty of changing eating habits, this study adds further support to the need for targeting in elaborating health and nutrition campaigns.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Notwithstanding the difficulties" to introduce a contrasting statement, acknowledging challenges before highlighting a positive outcome or course of action. It adds a layer of nuance to your writing, showing awareness of complexities.

Common error

Avoid using "Notwithstanding the difficulties" when a simple "but" or "however" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted. Use this phrase when you want to explicitly acknowledge and then set aside the difficulties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Notwithstanding the difficulties" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a clause expressing concession or contrast. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is generally used to acknowledge the existence of challenges or problems, but it emphasizes that these issues do not prevent a particular action or outcome from occurring.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Notwithstanding the difficulties" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that effectively acknowledges challenges before introducing a contrasting or qualifying statement. As Ludwig AI explains, its function is to signal concession and shift focus. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, the phrase adds nuance and sophistication to writing, demonstrating an awareness of complexities while emphasizing progress or determination. For less formal situations, consider alternatives such as "despite the challenges" or "in spite of the difficulties". When using "Notwithstanding the difficulties", ensure it genuinely adds value by explicitly acknowledging and then setting aside the difficulties, rather than acting as a mere substitute for simpler conjunctions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Despite the challenges

Emphasizes the act despite facing hardships.

In spite of the difficulties

Highlights the action taken regardless of existing issues.

Even with the problems

Focuses on proceeding even if there are existing problems.

Regardless of the obstacles

Stresses that barriers do not hinder action.

Challenges notwithstanding

Briefly acknowledges difficulties while focusing on the main point.

Despite these setbacks

Highlights the progression in spite of problems.

Albeit with the complications

Conveys progress or action while recognizing complexities.

Yet, with the issues present

Highlights the existence of issues, while the action continues.

Even given the struggles

Conveys effort continues, regardless of the magnitude of the struggles.

Withstanding the obstacles

Shows that efforts and plans will outlive any barriers.

FAQs

How can I use "Notwithstanding the difficulties" in a sentence?

Begin your sentence with "Notwithstanding the difficulties", followed by a comma, and then state the action or outcome that proceeds despite those difficulties. For example, "Notwithstanding the difficulties, the project was successfully completed".

What's a less formal alternative to "Notwithstanding the difficulties"?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "despite the challenges", "in spite of the difficulties", or simply "even though" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "Notwithstanding of the difficulties"?

No, the correct phrase is "Notwithstanding the difficulties". The preposition "of" should not be included.

What is the difference between "Notwithstanding the difficulties" and "Because of the difficulties"?

"Notwithstanding the difficulties" implies that something is happening despite the difficulties, whereas "Because of the difficulties" implies that the difficulties are the cause of something. They have opposite meanings.