despite being last

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite being last" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is true or valid even though it is in a position of being last or least favorable in a given context. Example: "Despite being last in the race, she received a warm round of applause for her determination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Consider: despite being last on the ladder they're only one win out of the eight.

The Guardian - Sport

Without Mourning, the Heat was 42-27, despite being last in the N.B.A. in both rebounding and blocked shots.

The New York Times - Sports

The Steelers are 3-1 despite being last in the league in passing after losing two backup quarterbacks to injury and settling on Charlie Batch.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The rest of the day's news was rolled under by all the spectacle, but if you looked carefully, you could discover that Arizona finally filled the last vacant N.F.L. coaching job with Bruce Arians, and Dan Bickley writes in The Arizona Republic that the Cards did awfully well despite their being last in that line.

The New York Times - Sports

On Saturday, Fox was first in that key demographic and CBS, despite its overall victory, was last among the big four networks in that age group.

The New York Times

Further, the majority of toilers, 60,000, who are on short-term or casual contracts, and therefore vulnerable, are excluded from the BBC's bullying, harassment and grievance policy, despite the fact it was last updated recently, in 2011, and the use of freelancers has been endemic for two decades.

The Guardian

These places have all kinds of inventory sitting around that could be deployed in whatever manner they see fit: a couple for extended test drives of new models, a few older ones paying their way despite being the last four on the lot from last year, a different way to monetize overnumerous used vehicles, and so on.

TechCrunch

Bob said, 'In an ideal world, that's what I'd like …'" Despite the fact that it was last thing on a Friday night, everyone wanted to make it work there and then.

The Guardian - Film

There will be no Snapchats of me trying to eat a Whopper at Ibiza airport despite the fact my jaw was last seen in the toilets at Amnesia.

Vice

They sit just two wins outside the eight despite being in last place for the majority of the season.

The Guardian - Sport

The United States is one of the four seeded teams for the women's World Cup in Germany next year despite being the last nation to qualify.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite being last" to highlight unexpected successes or achievements when the starting point or initial condition is unfavorable. This can add emphasis to the accomplishment.

Common error

Avoid using "despite being last" when there is no actual contradiction or surprising element. The phrase should introduce something unexpected or positive in light of the negative condition of being last.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite being last" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a contrast. It sets up a situation where one might expect a negative outcome due to being in a final position, but something different or unexpected occurs. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite being last" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrast, highlighting unexpected outcomes or achievements despite a disadvantageous starting point. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for written English. It's commonly found in news, sports, and scientific contexts, serving to emphasize a surprising element against initial expectations. When using this phrase, ensure a genuine contrast exists to amplify the impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even though finishing last

Focuses on the act of finishing in last place as the condition being contrasted.

in spite of a last-place finish

Highlights the final result and uses 'in spite of' as a stronger contrastive element.

notwithstanding their last position

Uses a more formal tone with 'notwithstanding' to indicate the contrast.

regardless of ending up last

Emphasizes that the final position does not affect the outcome.

although in bottom place

A more concise way of indicating the lowest position as a contrasting factor.

yet occupying the lowest rank

Highlights the occupation of the lowest rank, adding a sense of state.

while holding the tail position

Emphasizes the act of holding the last position, creating a vivid image.

even with the worst ranking

Focuses on the 'worst' ranking to create a strong contrast.

after coming in last

Highlights the action of coming in last as the contrasting element.

despite a poor final standing

Refers to final standing using a more generic term 'poor' to describe it.

FAQs

How can I use "despite being last" in a sentence?

Use "despite being last" to show a contrast between a low or final position and an unexpected positive outcome. For example, "Despite being last in the polls, she won the election".

What are some alternatives to "despite being last"?

You can use alternatives like "even though finishing last", "in spite of a last-place finish", or "regardless of ending up last" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "despite being last"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. The phrase functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrast or exception.

What's the difference between "despite being last" and "even though it was last"?

While both express contrast, "despite being last" emphasizes the state of 'being last', whereas "even though it was last" focuses on the past occurrence or condition of something being last. The former is generally used to highlight an ongoing or inherent condition.