despite all this

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite all this" is proper usage in written English.
You can use it at the beginning of a sentence when you want to contrast two ideas. For example, "Despite all this, I don't think the plan will work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite all this, the indicated I.P.O.

The New York Times

Despite all this, there are still differences.

The Guardian

Despite all this, few people notice them.

The New York Times

Yet despite all this, the TEF is on its way.

The Guardian

Despite all this, drug makers continued to hire him.

The New York Times - Health

But despite all this Setanta could not compete.

The Guardian

Despite all this, we heard little about it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet despite all this, he was impossible to dismiss.

The Guardian - Books

Despite all this, Wang at Balenciaga started well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Despite all this, Joshua has very good dental hygiene.

The New Yorker

Despite all this metaphysical weight, Gunderson's plays are fleetly comic.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite all this" to introduce a surprising or unexpected outcome that contradicts the preceding information. It effectively signals a shift in perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "despite all this" when a causal relationship is more appropriate. This phrase highlights contrast, not cause. For example, don't say "Despite all this, the project failed because of poor planning." Instead, use "Even with all this, the project failed because of poor planning."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite all this" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It introduces a contrasting element, indicating that what follows is unexpected or surprising given the preceding context. Ludwig examples confirm its role in setting up a contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite all this" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase to introduce a contrast or unexpected outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this. It functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase with a neutral register, suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives exist, "despite all this" effectively signals a shift in perspective, making it a valuable tool in writing. Remember to avoid using it as a causal connector and be mindful of its contrasting function.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

notwithstanding this

Formal alternative, placing greater emphasis on the preceding information.

in spite of this

Direct synonym, with a slightly more forceful tone.

even so

Shorter and more concise, suitable for less formal contexts.

all the same

Implies a sense of indifference to the preceding information.

however

A common transitional word indicating contrast, though less emphatic.

nevertheless

More formal and emphatic than "however".

yet

Simple conjunction indicating contrast.

that being said

Commonly used in speech to transition to a contrasting point.

with all that said

Similar to "that being said", but slightly more verbose.

after considering everything

Emphasizes the evaluation process before presenting the contrasting point.

FAQs

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

You can use "despite all this" to introduce a contrasting point that seems unexpected given the preceding information. For example, "The company faced numerous challenges. "Despite all this", it managed to achieve record profits."

What are some alternatives to "despite all this"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of this", "notwithstanding this", or "even so" depending on the context.

Is "despite all this" formal or informal?

"Despite all this" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "notwithstanding this" might be preferred in highly formal writing.

What's the difference between "despite all this" and "because of all this"?

"Despite all this" indicates a contrast, suggesting that something happened contrary to expectations. "Because of all this" indicates a cause-and-effect relationship, explaining why something happened as a result. For example, ""Despite all this", she succeeded" implies unexpected success, while "Because of all this, she struggled" indicates a direct consequence.