despite agreements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite agreements" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of existing agreements or understandings. Example: "Despite agreements made during the negotiations, the parties failed to reach a consensus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

[C1.] The World Health Organization says that despite agreements made earlier, many countries are still not promptly sharing information on avian influenza with the scientific community.

The New York Times

That is why the pending Penn National Gaming and Huntsman/Hexion transactions are still trading at significant discounts to their premiums, despite agreements favorable to them.

The New York Times

From a reporting standpoint, this is a more honest approach compared with reactions to previous cases, when not only China, but also other countries lied, despite agreements to share such information.

The New York Times - Health

The United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, condemned governments that were "not working together, despite agreements", while Human Rights Watch was scathing of the EU's "utter failure to respond collectively and compassionately".

The Guardian

The UNHCR said the continent stood "on the cusp of a largely self-induced humanitarian crisis", with governments "not working together despite agreements … and country after country imposing new border restrictions".

The Guardian

Both sides have criticized the failure of officers to keep the sides apart, but Thomas said officers coped as well as they could with protesters, who were determined to cause trouble despite agreements worked out in advance.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Archives|SOFT COAL MEN CUT WAGES.; West Virginia Operators Return to 1917 Scale Despite Agreement.

The New York Times

SOFT COAL MEN CUT WAGES.; West Virginia Operators Return to 1917 Scale Despite Agreement.

The New York Times

Despite agreement at the majors, and equal prize money at 10 other events that feature men and women, critics remain.

The New York Times - Sports

Most countries' plans do not look beyond 2030 – despite agreement in Paris to begin phasing out greenhouse gas emissions completely by the middle of the century.

The Guardian

Despite agreement that rational, data-based decisions will lead to improved health outcomes, many public health decisions appear to be made intuitively or politically.

Social Science & Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite agreements" to clearly indicate a situation where expected outcomes from formal arrangements are not being realized or are being contradicted by events. This emphasizes the contrast between the established understanding and the actual occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "despite agreements" when referring to hypothetical or potential agreements. This phrase is best used when agreements are already in place and there's a deviation from what was agreed upon. Use "despite expectations of agreements" or "even if agreements are made" in hypothetical situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite agreements" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a clause. It introduces a contrast or exception to a statement, indicating that the agreement(s) do not prevent the action or situation described in the main clause. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite agreements" is a prepositional phrase used to express a situation that persists even when agreements suggest it should not. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable. It is most commonly found in news and scientific contexts with a neutral register. While alternatives like "in spite of agreements" and "regardless of the agreements" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. When writing, it's best to reserve "despite agreements" for scenarios where formal agreements are already in place. Overall, "despite agreements" is a useful phrase for indicating discrepancies between agreements and reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the agreements

A direct synonym, showing something happens even with existing agreements.

regardless of the agreements

Indicates the agreements have no bearing on the outcome.

irrespective of the agreements

Indicates the agreements are not relevant to the situation.

notwithstanding the agreements

Emphasizes the agreements do not prevent something from happening.

the agreements notwithstanding

Similar to 'notwithstanding', but with a slightly more formal tone.

the agreements notwithstanding

Reiterates that agreements are not impactful.

even with the agreements in place

Stresses the existence and formalization of the agreements, yet something still occurs.

without regard to the agreements

Emphasizes a lack of consideration for the agreements.

in defiance of the agreements

Highlights a more active resistance or disregard for the agreements.

agreements aside

Briefly sets aside the agreements to focus on the contrasting situation.

FAQs

How can I use "despite agreements" in a sentence?

You can use "despite agreements" to show a contrast between what was agreed upon and what is actually happening. For example, "Despite agreements to reduce emissions, many countries are still increasing their carbon footprint".

What phrases are similar to "despite agreements"?

Similar phrases include "in spite of agreements", "regardless of the agreements", or "notwithstanding the agreements". They all indicate that something is happening even though there are existing agreements that might suggest otherwise.

Is "despite agreements" formal or informal?

"Despite agreements" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language than the phrase itself.

Which is correct, "despite agreements" or "in spite of agreements"?

Both "despite agreements" and ""in spite of agreements"" are correct and can be used interchangeably. "In spite of" might be considered slightly more emphatic, but the difference is minimal.