despite appearances still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite appearances still" is not correct as it stands and may cause confusion in written English.
It can be used when you want to convey that something is true or valid regardless of how it may seem on the surface, but it needs to be restructured for clarity. Example: "Despite appearances still suggesting otherwise, the project is on track for completion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite appearances, however, he is no socialist.

The Economist

Appearances still matter.

The Guardian

In recent years a range of studies have been published, as reviewed by Beumer et al. [ 189], showing that pathogenic, commensal and environmental microbial species are all introduced continually into the home by people, food, water, pets, and sometimes via the air, and that our modern home environments, despite their clean appearance still offer constant opportunities for microbial exposure.

Clinical and Experimental Allergy

Time to show the world that, despite appearances, you're still Yoko from the block.

The Guardian - Tech

Still, despite appearances, it's not clear that the Roses have really been demoted.

The Guardian - Music

Despite appearances, the division race is still expected to come down to the Braves and the Mets.

The New York Times - Sports

Also, despite appearances of weakness, they are still here and they're not going anywhere soon.

Huffington Post

Despite appearances, Dumervil said he's still a work in progress in the Broncos' new 3-4 scheme.

Huffington Post

Despite appearances, the search for Martian life is still on.

The Guardian

Despite appearances, it is light and delicate.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Despite appearances, Diane Williams is not making miniatures.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, restructure phrases like "despite appearances still" to "despite appearances, it is still..." to ensure grammatical correctness. Using this adjusted structure will help to avoid any potential confusion.

Common error

Avoid placing "still" directly after "appearances" in constructions with "despite". Reword to clarify the relationship between the apparent situation and the actual one.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase is to introduce a contrast or contradiction. While "despite appearances" sets up an expectation based on how something seems, the addition of "still" suggests that the opposite is true, or that a certain condition persists. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is not correct and requires restructuring for clarity.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the individual components of the phrase "despite appearances still" are common, their specific combination is grammatically questionable and requires careful attention. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is not correct as it stands and is better rephrased for clarity and grammatical correctness. When used, it aims to highlight a contrast between superficial impressions and the underlying reality. Given its potential for awkwardness, it's advisable to consider alternatives like "regardless of outward appearances" or "even though it seems otherwise" to ensure your writing is both clear and grammatically sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of outward appearances

Replaces "despite appearances" with a more formal equivalent, emphasizing the contrast between surface and reality.

despite initial impressions

Highlights that the initial assessment may be misleading.

notwithstanding how it seems

Uses "notwithstanding" to introduce the contrasting element, offering a more sophisticated tone.

although it would seem not

Introduces a formal contradiction to what is expected.

even though it seems otherwise

Highlights the apparent contradiction, using "even though" for emphasis.

on the face of it

Highlights a statement is true beyond its superficial aspect.

in spite of what one might think

Focuses on the potential misjudgment, using "in spite of" to introduce the actual truth.

outwardly

Focuses on a statement's true nature without regard for external factors.

contrary to popular belief

Specifically targets widespread but inaccurate assumptions, using a common introductory phrase.

though it may not look like it

Employs a more casual tone, directly acknowledging the deceptive appearance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "despite appearances still" for better clarity?

Consider rephrasing as "despite appearances, it is still..." or "even though it appears otherwise, it is still...". This ensures the sentence structure is grammatically sound and the meaning is clear.

What is a more formal way to say "despite appearances still"?

A more formal alternative is "regardless of outward appearances, it remains..." or "notwithstanding how it seems, it is still...". These options provide a more sophisticated tone.

Is "despite appearances still" grammatically correct?

The phrase "despite appearances still" is not correct in standard English. It's better to restructure the sentence for clarity, such as "despite appearances, it is still true that...".

What's the difference between "despite appearances" and alternatives like "in spite of what one might think"?

"Despite appearances" generally points out a contradiction between how something seems and how it actually is. "In spite of what one might think" is similar, but specifically addresses a potential misjudgment by someone.