despite commitments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite commitments" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of prior obligations or promises. Example: "Despite commitments to other projects, she decided to take on the new role."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

She also said Mr. Ban's office had blocked attempts to improve transparency despite commitments to the contrary.

The New York Times

Despite commitments to opening up regional trade, government policies lack action, says the World Bank, while big producers and their connections are invested in the status quo.

The Guardian

Despite commitments made after the second world war, hundreds of thousands of artefacts stolen by the Nazis have not been returned to their rightful owners.

The Guardian - Arts

Despite commitments to diversity, neither Google nor Facebook have made a dent in those numbers since they first announced them in 2014.

The Washington Post

"It should concern everyone that despite commitments to relocate 66,400 refugees from Greece, states have so far only pledged 1,539 spaces, and only 325 actual relocations have occurred," he said.

The Guardian

One of the world's leading industrial multinationals has said it will be investing in fossil fuels for "the really long-term", despite commitments to green technologies including renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Demonstration comes as traffic deaths in the District this year surpass those in 2017, despite commitment to Vision Zero.

The Washington Post

In highlighting the key methodological issues, it draws attention to areas where studies may fail, despite commitment to them of much money and time.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Among practice staff, despite commitment to the concept, concerns relating to governance and consent were seen to conflict and present a potential barrier to engagement.

BMC Health Services Research

Despite commitment to these goals, however, many of the largest international programs supporting in-service training do not consistently require or provide evidence linking specific training efforts to their desired outcomes.

Human Resources for Health

And a great many go to great lengths to make it to games--despite work commitments that take them time zones away.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite commitments" to clearly signal a contrast between expected actions based on promises and the actual outcome. This can add emphasis to situations where expectations are not met.

Common error

Avoid using "despite commitments" when there were no explicit promises or agreements made. The phrase implies a violation or disregard of prior obligations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite commitments" functions as an adversative conjunction phrase. It introduces a contrast or contradiction, indicating that something occurs or is the case even though there were prior obligations or promises made. Ludwig AI shows that it connects two contrasting ideas, highlighting a divergence from what was expected.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite commitments" is a conjunction phrase that signals a contradiction between prior obligations and actual outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English, and it is frequently employed in diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business. The phrase implies a sense of surprise or disappointment and is generally neutral in register. When using this phrase, ensure that there were indeed explicit promises or agreements in place to avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives include "notwithstanding obligations" or "in spite of pledges", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in tone. Overall, "despite commitments" effectively highlights the divergence between expected actions and reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of pledges

Substitutes "despite" with "in spite of" and "commitments" with "pledges", slightly altering the nuance.

notwithstanding obligations

Replaces "despite" with "notwithstanding" and "commitments" with "obligations", offering a more formal tone.

in the face of obligations

Uses a more assertive tone, emphasizing the confrontation of obligations.

regardless of undertakings

Employs "regardless of" instead of "despite" and "undertakings" in place of "commitments", providing a more emphatic tone.

commitment notwithstanding

Uses a postpositive construction to emphasize commitment as secondary to the action.

even with agreements in place

Explains the scenario more explicitly, focusing on the existence of agreements.

although promises were made

Shifts to a clause structure, highlighting the act of making promises.

yet with assurances given

Highlights that the action happened even though assurances were provided.

even after guaranteeing

Focuses on the act of guaranteeing something, adding a layer of assurance that was defied.

against a backdrop of promises

Describes the circumstances more poetically, referring to unfulfilled promises.

FAQs

How can I use "despite commitments" in a sentence?

You can use "despite commitments" to show that something happened even though there were previous promises or obligations. For example, "Despite commitments to reduce emissions, the country's carbon footprint increased this year."

What's a more formal alternative to "despite commitments"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "notwithstanding obligations" or "in the face of obligations". These options add a layer of sophistication to your writing.

Is it always negative to say "despite commitments"?

Generally, using "despite commitments" implies a negative outcome, as it suggests that promises were not kept. However, the overall context determines the final connotation. It can simply highlight a deviation from the expected course.

What is the difference between "despite commitments" and "in light of commitments"?

"Despite commitments" suggests that something occurred in contradiction to previous promises. "In light of commitments", on the other hand, implies that something was done considering the existing promises; they have opposite meanings.