despite being late

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite being late" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate that something still happened despite the fact that something else happened that could have prevented it. For example, "I arrived home late, but despite being late I still cooked dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Despite being late for their sets, the band placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of Reading and Leeds organisers.

Independent

Despite being late to a faculty meeting, he was determined to show me around the department and finish our discussion.

The New York Times

Despite being late for the interview, Mr. Hewitt, 27, got the internship he needed for his master's degree in social work.

The New York Times

Despite being late to the digital revolution, the Week now has 27,000 subscribers to its digital edition, making it one of the largest in the UK.

The Guardian

Yet despite being late to market and not as pleasant to use as rivals, Apple Music has snapped up 13 million subscribers paying $120 a year.

The New York Times - Tech

Despite being late to the game, TEN made it work, shifting from being a destination site to a service provider model.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The automated kiosks, despite being latest generation units, suffer from all of the same failures as the other store, but the presence of a full-time operator ensures that problems are resolved reasonably quickly.

Forbes

The morning was rainy, and despite it being late June, the wind was sharp.

The New York Times - Magazine

Apple has been riding high on iPhone gains, despite it being late in the refresh cycle for the smartphone, which generally gets a new version come fall.

TechCrunch

That is why Larry Page stepped in as CEO, why he tied bonuses to social, and why Google+ is their social sword and shield to fight back and capture user data, despite it being late in the game.

TechCrunch

"I have to play something for you," he insisted, despite my protests about being late for curtain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite being late", ensure the sentence clearly contrasts the expected negative consequence of lateness with the actual outcome. For example, "Despite being late to the meeting, she presented the key findings effectively."

Common error

Avoid using "despite of being late". The correct phrase is "despite being late" or "in spite of being late". 'Despite' should not be followed by 'of'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite being late" functions as a concessive phrase, indicating a contrast between the expected negative consequence of lateness and the actual outcome. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, highlighting that an action or event occurred regardless of the lateness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite being late" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered concessive phrase used to highlight a contrast between the expected negative outcome of lateness and what actually occurred. Ludwig confirms its correct usage and provides numerous examples from reliable sources, primarily in news and media contexts. While frequently confused with "despite of", the proper form is "despite being late". Alternatives include "even though arriving late" and "although tardy", each carrying slightly different nuances. Using "despite being late" effectively involves clearly showcasing the contrast and avoiding the common mistake of including "of" after "despite".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even though arriving late

Emphasizes the act of arriving late as a condition that didn't prevent the subsequent action.

although tardy

Uses a more formal synonym for 'late', maintaining the concessive relationship.

in spite of the lateness

Highlights the lateness as a factor that could have been a problem, but wasn't.

notwithstanding the delay

A more formal way of saying "despite the lateness", suitable for professional contexts.

even with the late arrival

Focuses on the late arrival as a specific event that didn't impede progress.

late as it was

Inverts the structure, emphasizing the lateness before stating the outcome.

despite the delayed time

Highlights the fact that the time was delayed, but something still happened.

although behind schedule

Replaces 'late' with 'behind schedule', indicating a deviation from the planned timing.

even at a late hour

Emphasizes the lateness in terms of the time of day.

with the lateness notwithstanding

A more emphatic and somewhat redundant way of stating "despite the lateness".

FAQs

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

Use "despite being late" to show that something happened even though someone was late. For example, "Despite being late, he still managed to catch the train".

What can I say instead of "despite being late"?

You can use alternatives like "even though arriving late", "although tardy", or "in spite of the lateness" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "despite of being late"?

No, "despite of being late" is incorrect. The correct phrase is "despite being late" or "in spite of being late".

What's the difference between "despite being late" and "although being late"?

While both are similar, "despite being late" is generally preferred and more common. "Although being late" can sound slightly awkward; it's better to use "although I was late" or "although it was late".