despite hardship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite hardship" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has happened or will happen despite facing difficulties or challenges. Example: Despite the financial hardships they faced, the couple managed to save enough money to buy their dream home.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Despite hardship, he was a good student, never repeating a year of school.

The New York Times

Billings told it all, writing about classmates living with illness or taking joy in conversations, about classmates who remained cheerful despite hardship, and about others who did not.

Princeton University

A current ran through her words: the detectives became heroes, she said, because they made the right choices, even despite hardship during their youth.

The New York Times

Despite hardship experienced by day labourers and the lack of resources available for Kabul's residents, the 2001 American-led invasion undeniably gave a boost to the city's economy.

The Guardian

The Cajuns, exiled from Canada by the British for religious and political reasons in the 1700s, have always been expert at carrying on with their particular joie de vivre despite hardship, and nothing has changed.

The New York Times

Despite hardship, they eventually experienced the American Dream.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Despite hardships, the students made debt reduction their cause.

The New York Times

Despite hardships and even outright discrimination because of her disabilities, Thompson has overcome many of the barriers she has encountered.

Harvard University

Despite hardships faced by workers paid by the hour, office workers have rejoiced at the new law.

The Guardian

But the result is a series of anthropological ghettos, leaving little sense of interaction, let alone an understanding of what lured immigrants, despite hardships.

The New York Times - Arts

"Palestinian people have been living under occupation for a long time and despite hardships, people still need to put food on the table.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite hardship" to highlight resilience or perseverance against significant obstacles. It adds emphasis to the positive outcome achieved in difficult circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "despite hardship" when the difficulties are minor or easily overcome. The phrase is most effective when the challenges are significant and noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite hardship" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate that an action or state occurs in spite of difficult circumstances. It sets up a contrast, highlighting resilience or unexpected success. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

29%

Formal & Business

28%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "despite hardship" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that emphasizes resilience in the face of adversity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate that something happens or is true even when difficult conditions exist. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and formal communications, though it's more frequent in news and media. When using the phrase, remember that it is more effective when highlighting perseverance in the face of genuine, significant challenges. Consider using alternative phrases like "in the face of adversity" or "in spite of adversity" for similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of adversity

Similar to "despite hardship", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the negative circumstances.

undeterred by hardship

Highlights the lack of discouragement despite facing difficulties.

in the face of adversity

Focuses on confronting difficult circumstances directly.

regardless of the difficulties

Highlights a decision made without considering the problems.

withstanding adversity

Emphasizes the ability to endure and overcome hardship.

notwithstanding difficulties

A more formal way of saying "despite difficulties".

unfazed by the difficulties

Suggests a calm and composed attitude despite challenges.

adversity notwithstanding

A more concise and formal inversion of the original phrase.

even with challenges

Emphasizes the presence of ongoing challenges.

challenges notwithstanding

Similar to "adversity notwithstanding", emphasizes specific challenges.

FAQs

What does "despite hardship" mean?

The phrase "despite hardship" means that something occurs or is true even though there are difficult or adverse conditions present.

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

You can use "despite hardship" to show that someone or something has succeeded or continued even though they faced significant difficulties. For example: "Despite hardship, they managed to build a successful business".

What are some alternatives to "despite hardship"?

Some alternatives to "despite hardship" include "in the face of adversity", "in spite of adversity", or "notwithstanding difficulties". These phrases convey a similar meaning of overcoming challenges.

Is "despite hardships" grammatically correct?

Yes, "despite hardships" is also grammatically correct. "Hardship" can be singular or plural, depending on whether you are referring to a general state of difficulty or to specific instances of difficulty.