despite hardships

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite hardships" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was accomplished or achieved in spite of difficulties or hardships. For example, "Despite hardships, she completed her degree in three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 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

Despite hardships thrown the protagonist's way, there's a feeling the characters are just beginning to emerge as interesting people when the house lights come up.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 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, they eventually experienced the American Dream.

Huffington Post

Despite hardship, and the searing legacy of atrocities under Cambodia's Pol Pot regime, the filmmakers said they were deeply impacted by the village's "greatness of spirit".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite hardships", ensure the sentence clearly illustrates what was achieved or maintained in the face of those difficulties. This provides context and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "despite hardships" without clearly stating what positive outcome or achievement occurred. The phrase's impact is diminished if the reader doesn't understand what was accomplished against those difficulties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite hardships" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by indicating a contrast or concession. It sets up a situation where difficulties exist, yet something still occurs or is achieved, according to Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "despite hardships" is a powerful tool for conveying resilience and unexpected success in the face of adversity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves as an adverbial phrase that sets up a contrast, underscoring achievements made even when difficulties persist. While suitable for various contexts, its usage is most prevalent in news reporting, formal communications, and scientific writing. Consider the importance of explicitly stating the achievement or outcome that occurred "despite hardships" to maximize the phrase’s impact. By doing so, you effectively highlight the strength and determination that led to success, making your writing more compelling and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the face of adversity

Focuses on the act of confronting difficult situations directly.

in spite of challenges

Highlights the challenges that were overcome.

even with difficulties

Directly acknowledges the presence of difficulties.

overcoming obstacles

Focuses on the successful navigation of obstacles.

notwithstanding difficulties

Emphasizes the difficulties, but still suggests something positive happened.

undeterred by adversity

Highlights the unwavering resolve despite facing adversity.

regardless of the struggles

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the struggles.

withstanding adversity

Highlights the act of enduring and overcoming adverse conditions.

against all odds

Emphasizes the improbability of success.

in the teeth of difficulties

Suggests a fierce confrontation with challenges.

FAQs

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

Use "despite hardships" to show that something positive or significant happened even when there were difficulties. For instance, "Despite hardships, the team achieved its goals."

What phrases are similar to "despite hardships"?

Alternatives include "in the face of adversity", "in spite of challenges", or "overcoming obstacles". The best choice depends on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify the nature of the "hardships" when using the phrase?

While not always necessary, specifying the hardships provides greater context and impact. However, if the hardships are already understood or implied, it may not be needed.

What's the difference between "despite hardships" and "because of hardships"?

"Despite hardships" indicates something positive happened even though there were difficulties. "Because of hardships" suggests that the hardships themselves caused something to happen, often implying a negative consequence or a lesson learned.