despite ever

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite ever" is not an accepted phrase in written English.
If you are trying to express the idea of something happening despite a high degree of something else, you could use "despite ever increasing" or "despite ever mounting." For example, "He continued to struggle despite ever increasing pressures from his boss."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

In the euro area, the ECB has kept short-term interest rates constant, despite ever gloomier economic news.

The Economist

And despite ever louder calls for central bank intervention, Mr. Draghi offered no hope he would come to any country's rescue by pumping money into the financial markets.

The New York Times

The street price of recreational drugs has been dropping pretty steadily for a while now in America despite ever more punitive drugs laws; about 80% in real terms for cocaine, even more than that for heroin, Mr Kleiman says.

The Economist

Unlike cigarette smokers, who generally accept that smoking is hazardous and have lain low despite ever more stringent restrictions on their habit, e-cigarette users, commonly known as "vapers," have created a boisterous subculture vociferously opposed to any regulations that might limit availability of the wide range of battery-powered devices and flavored nicotine fluids on the market.

The New York Times

The milestone moment was a sobering reminder that the emission of globe-warming gases is continuing unabated, despite ever more certainty that the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation is on track to end the millennia of relatively stable climate during which human civilisation has flourished.

The Guardian

"He is — by a mile —the most popular politician in the country" and "his desertion of David Cameron, despite ever more intense pleading by the PM, is a disaster for the Tory leader — and for the rest of the Remain camp".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In Germany, hundreds of thousands crossed from East to West, despite ever-tightening Soviet border controls.

The Economist

Many tropical trees exhibit intermittent height growth despite ever-moist and otherwise favourable growth conditions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite ever-dwindling audiences, network news programs cling to established formula and cookie-cutter formats.

The New York Times

Both men are publishing national titles with declining print sales and - despite ever-improving online audiences - are dealing with declining revenue.

The Guardian

Sayer watches in helpless horror as encephalitis lethargica regains its crippling chokehold on his patients, despite ever-increasing doses of L-Dopa.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "despite ever" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "despite ever increasing" or "in spite of any" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "despite ever" when they intend to use "although". Remember that "despite" is a preposition and requires a noun phrase, while "although" is a conjunction and introduces a clause. Use "although there was" instead of "despite there was."

Linguistic Context

"Despite ever" functions as a prepositional phrase intended to introduce a contrasting element or circumstance. However, it is grammatically incorrect and requires modification, such as adding "increasing" or "mounting" to create a valid and coherent phrase. As Ludwig AI explains, using the phrase in its original form is generally not accepted in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "despite ever" appears in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing, it's crucial to note that it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's generally not accepted in written English. The intended function is to express contrast or concession, but it requires modification to be grammatically sound. Alternatives like "despite ever increasing" or "in spite of any" are recommended to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the isolated phrase "despite ever" in formal, professional, and even neutral writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite ever increasing

Adds "increasing" to make the phrase grammatically correct, suggesting a continuous increase in something.

despite continuously

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the opposing factor.

even though

Directly introduces a contrasting element.

in spite of any

Replaces "despite" with "in spite of" and "ever" with "any", conveying a similar concessive meaning.

despite anything

Broadens the scope of what is being disregarded or overcome.

regardless of any

Emphasizes a lack of concern or consideration for something.

although always

Highlights a consistent condition that something occurs against.

even with

A simpler way to indicate that something is happening despite a particular circumstance.

in the face of

Implies a challenging or opposing force that is being confronted.

notwithstanding any

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "despite".

FAQs

Is "despite ever" grammatically correct?

No, "despite ever" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's often better to use phrases like "despite ever increasing" or "in spite of any".

What are some alternatives to "despite ever"?

You can use alternatives like "despite ever increasing", "in spite of any", or "regardless of any", depending on the context.

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

"Despite" is a preposition and should be followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, "Despite the rain, we went for a walk" or "Despite ever increasing challenges, we persisted".

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

"Despite" is a preposition, while "although" is a conjunction. "Despite" is followed by a noun phrase (e.g., "despite the cost"), and "although" is followed by a clause (e.g., "although it was expensive").