despite his difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite his difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of the challenges or obstacles faced by the person mentioned. Example: "Despite his difficulty in understanding the material, he managed to pass the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He continues to enjoy remarkable popular support despite his difficulty in implementing promises to create a civil society governed by the rule of law.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Despite his difficulties with Cao, Vann quickly became General Harkins' favorite adviser.

The New Yorker

Despite his difficulties there — A.P. History was his one success — he got into Wesleyan, from which he graduated in 1987.

The New York Times - Magazine

Despite his difficulties with the book, Mr. Kaufman had little problem adapting another work, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," the memoirs of the "Gong Show" host Chuck Barris.

The New York Times

"The proof that he is king of relationships is that despite his difficulties, his role in the National Football League has been so critical that I, for one, choose to overlook those difficulties and embrace the friendship.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite his difficulties in the second part of the season, Giroud's return of one league goal every 152 minutes was the fourth best in the Premier League behind Sergio Agüero, Vardy and Harry Kane.

The Guardian - Sport

Other winners of performer awards were Christine Dakin (for sustained achievement with the Martha Graham Dance Company), Germaul Yusef Barnes (for performing the choreography of Bill T. Jones and Scott Heron Cathy Weisis's "Electric Haiku"), who was grateful, he said, for being hired despite his difficulties remembering choreography.

The New York Times - Arts

The momentum from the earlier reforms continues, and despite his difficulties Mr Singh has been able to introduce a national rate of value-added tax, and pioneering public-private partnerships for road building.

The Economist

Despite his difficulties at City, Tevez remains a sought-after player.

BBC

Pole position looks set to be a fight between the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers, and few would bet against Vettel sealing his fourth in a row despite his difficulties.

BBC

He has worked hard to keep up with his peers despite his difficulties.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite his difficulty", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what action or outcome occurs because of or in spite of the difficulty. Provide context to explain the nature and impact of the difficulty.

Common error

Avoid vague sentences where it's unclear whether the difficulty aided or hindered the outcome. Clearly state if the difficulty was overcome or contributed to a specific result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite his difficulty" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrast or concession. It indicates that what follows is happening in spite of the mentioned challenge. The examples provided by Ludwig show how it sets up a situation where someone achieves something even when faced with a challenge.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite his difficulty" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrast and highlight resilience in the face of challenges. As shown in the Ludwig examples, the phrase is widely used across various sources, with emphasis in News & Media and Wiki. The expression is grammatically correct and serves to communicate perseverance. When using this phrase, ensure that the outcome or achievement is clearly linked to the difficulty mentioned. It's considered a versatile expression suitable for neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of his hardship

Replaces "difficulty" with "hardship", suggesting a more severe challenge.

notwithstanding his struggle

Uses "notwithstanding" for a more formal tone, emphasizing the existing struggle.

even with his challenges

Substitutes "difficulty" with the broader term "challenges".

regardless of his impediment

Replaces "difficulty" with "impediment", highlighting a hindrance.

despite his limitations

Focuses on inherent limitations rather than a specific difficulty.

in the face of his adversity

Emphasizes the presence of adversity as the context for the action.

even given his problems

Uses "problems" as a more general term encompassing various difficulties.

despite his setbacks

Highlights past failures or setbacks that haven't deterred the person.

despite his uphill battle

Metaphorically emphasizes the struggle as a continuous uphill climb.

notwithstanding his disadvantage

Focuses on the disadvantage the person faces, rather than the difficulty itself.

FAQs

How can I use "despite his difficulty" in a sentence?

Use "despite his difficulty" to show that someone achieved something or continued doing something even when faced with a challenge. For example, "Despite his difficulty in learning the language, he persevered and became fluent".

What are some alternatives to "despite his difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of his struggle", "even with his challenges", or "notwithstanding his hardship" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "although he had difficulty" or "despite his difficulty"?

Both phrases are correct, but "despite his difficulty" is more concise. "Although he had difficulty" introduces a clause and can be useful when you want to provide more detail about the difficulty.

Can I use "despite of his difficulty"?

No, the correct phrase is "despite his difficulty". The word "of" is not needed after "despite" in this context.