despite difficult times

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite difficult times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a situation is hard but can still be endured or overcome. For example: "We remain hopeful for the future despite difficult times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Phillips's new contract, like Valentine's, also reflects his survival despite difficult times.

The New York Times - Sports

Walker and Holt will be key and despite difficult times of late, they do have excellent records at this level.

The Guardian - Sport

He added that despite "difficult times" for the president, "you have billions of us who are rooting for you".

The New York Times

The housing provider says its bond issue has demonstrated that investors still have a lot of confidence in the housing associations, despite difficult times.

The Guardian

Despite difficult times, many companies are still standouts in their sectors.

Forbes

(See Circuit Cityy: Going Once, Going Twice").. Despite difficult times in the consumer market, Apple has been doing something right, as it and communications chip specialist Qualcomm are the only U.S.-based software and hardware companies of the 10 largest by market valuations to have avoided the widespread job losses plaguing corporate America over the past year.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And Todd Eberhard, president of Eberhard Investments in New York City, recently sent out a message reassuring clients of the long-term value of the stock market -- despite "these difficult times".

The New York Times

Eric's style remained unchanged, never wavering from his vision and never avoiding confrontation, despite some difficult times before his retirement in 1989.

The Guardian

Rajoy is also wary of allowing Spain to be lumped in with Greece and other failing economies, despite the difficult times his country has endured.

The Guardian

Eric's style remained unchanged, never wavering from his vision and never avoiding confrontation, despite some difficult times before his retirement in 1989.

The Guardian

It is a testament to Mr. Graham's standing among his employees that despite the difficult times, few hold him in anything but the highest esteem.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase, ensure that the surrounding context clearly illustrates the specific challenges being faced.

Common error

Avoid using "despite difficult times" when the situation is catastrophic or irrecoverable; the phrase implies that the challenges, while significant, can be overcome or endured. For more severe situations, consider phrases that convey a sense of crisis or collapse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite difficult times" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a clause. It indicates a concessive relationship, acknowledging hardship while highlighting a contrasting outcome or situation. As Ludwig AI states, it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "despite difficult times" is a prepositional phrase used to express resilience or progress when acknowledging challenging circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. When employing this phrase, ensure that the surrounding context clearly identifies the specific challenges being faced to effectively underscore the contrast between the difficulties and the continuing progress. Alternatives like "in the face of adversity" or "notwithstanding hardships" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the face of adversity

Shifts the focus to the act of facing adversity directly.

notwithstanding hardships

Emphasizes the hardships that are being disregarded or overcome.

in spite of hardship

Uses "hardship" instead of "difficult times", offering a slightly stronger connotation of adversity.

even with challenges

Focuses on the presence of challenges as a condition.

withstanding trying circumstances

Replaces "difficult times" with a more descriptive and formal phrase.

overcoming obstacles

Highlights the act of overcoming, rather than the presence of difficulty.

rising above adversity

Emphasizes a sense of triumph and elevation over negative circumstances.

persevering through tough periods

Replaces "difficult times" with "tough periods", focusing on endurance.

managing through crises

Shifts the focus to the act of managing and navigating through crises.

navigating challenging situations

Focuses on the active process of navigating and dealing with challenging scenarios.

FAQs

How can I use "despite difficult times" in a sentence?

You can use "despite difficult times" to show resilience or persistence. For example, "The company remained profitable "despite difficult times" because of its innovative strategies."

What are some alternatives to saying "despite difficult times"?

Alternatives include "in the face of adversity", "notwithstanding hardships", or "in spite of hardship", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "despite of difficult times"?

No, the correct phrase is "despite difficult times". The preposition "of" is unnecessary after "despite".

What's the difference between "despite difficult times" and "although there were difficult times"?

"Despite difficult times" is more concise and direct, emphasizing the contrast between the challenges and the outcome. "Although there were difficult times" is a clause that sets up a contrasting statement, often providing more context. The choice depends on the desired emphasis and sentence structure.