despite all that

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite all that" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something has happened in spite of other things that have occurred. For example: "Despite all that we have been through, I am still here for you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Despite all that, Connecticut did fine.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite all that, the Aracans say they are still learning.

The New York Times

Despite all that, the Twins' manager remains implacable.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite all that, Green is largely unknown in this city.

The New York Times

Despite all that, blue-chip stocks stood up reasonably well until May 17.

The New York Times

Despite all that, the Giants still trailed by those 6 points in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite all that, Liverpool were still top of the table when Dalglish quit.

The Guardian - Sport

"He had such a great attitude despite all that he had gone through," said Mr. Goldstein.

The New York Times - Style

Despite all that, the news is not all bad.

Huffington Post

Despite all that has happened, I'm still perky.

Science Magazine

Despite all that, or perhaps because of it, Jones loves the job and relishes its challenges.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place "despite all that" at the beginning of a sentence or clause to clearly signal a shift in perspective or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "despite all that" when the contrasting point is already clearly implied. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite all that" functions as a concessive connector, linking two contrasting ideas. It introduces a statement that is unexpected or surprising in light of the information that precedes it. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used to emphasize a situation occurring regardless of previous events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite all that" is a versatile phrase used to introduce a contrasting or unexpected statement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media. It functions as a concessive connector, signaling a shift in perspective after acknowledging previous circumstances. While suitable for neutral and even some formal contexts, it's essential to avoid redundancy for maximum impact. Consider using alternatives like "in spite of everything" or "even so" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of everything

Emphasizes the totality of circumstances being overcome.

even with all that

Highlights the co-existence of something positive despite negative circumstances.

notwithstanding all that

A more formal and emphatic way of expressing concession.

all the same

Indicates that something remains true regardless of previous factors.

yet still

Implies a sense of continuation or persistence despite challenges.

even so

A concise way to express contrast after acknowledging a situation.

however

A simple conjunction indicating a contrast or exception.

regardless

Stresses that something occurs without being affected by other factors.

with all that being said

Acknowledges preceding information before introducing a contrasting point.

at the end of the day

Focuses on the final outcome or result despite earlier challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "despite all that" in a sentence?

You can use "despite all that" to introduce a contrasting statement after a series of preceding statements. For example, "The project faced numerous delays and budget cuts; "despite all that", the team delivered a successful outcome."

What phrases are similar to "despite all that"?

Similar phrases include "in spite of everything", "even so", and "notwithstanding all that". These phrases also indicate a contrast or concession.

Is "in spite of all that" the same as "despite all that"?

Yes, "in spite of all that" is largely interchangeable with "despite all that". Both phrases convey the idea that something is true or has happened regardless of preceding circumstances.

Can I start a paragraph with "despite all that"?

Yes, starting a paragraph with "despite all that" is a good way to signal a contrast with the previous paragraph or to introduce a surprising or unexpected development.