despite its awkwardness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite its awkwardness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is being accepted or acknowledged even though it may be uncomfortable or clumsy. Example: "The presentation was engaging, despite its awkwardness, and the audience appreciated the effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some of the German dialogue between musical numbers was retained, despite its awkwardness on an American concert stage.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is a book full of anger and violence and disaster and weird sex and strange new realities, a book that seems to want to hold all of Japan inside of it — a book that, even despite its occasional awkwardness (or maybe even because of that awkwardness), makes you marvel, reading it, at all the strange folds a single human brain can hold.

The New York Times - Magazine

Nevertheless, it is likely that Weyl remained convinced to the end of his days that intuitionism, despite its technical "awkwardness", came closest, of all mathematical approaches, to capturing the essence of the continuum.

SEP

Elettaria is lovely but awkward, and its awkwardness undercuts Mr. Nawab's impressively creative cooking.

The New York Times - Food

It was memorable for its awkwardness.

Huffington Post

The main charm of Episodes was always its awkwardness.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Yet while the reunion works on an expository level, its awkwardness extends to the filmmaking.

The New York Times

His prose is uninteresting on a micro level, and is frequently acute in its awkwardness.

The New York Times - Books

A measure of its awkwardness: "And what kind of name is that?" Lawrence asks Rasheed, attempting icebreaking chitchat.

The New York Times

Its awkwardness, which is almost a thing of beauty, survives in mine.

The Guardian - Opinion

Its awkwardness just showed how poised, and perfectly tailored, their own songs were.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite its awkwardness" to acknowledge a potential negative aspect while still highlighting a positive outcome or acceptance. It's useful for tempering criticism and showing understanding.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "despite its awkwardness" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "even though it was awkward" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite its awkwardness" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a clause by introducing a contrasting element. It acknowledges a certain level of discomfort, clumsiness, or difficulty, while the main clause describes something that exists or occurs in spite of this.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "despite its awkwardness" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase that functions to acknowledge a degree of discomfort or clumsiness while highlighting a positive aspect. As Ludwig suggests, it is commonly found in news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, consider simpler alternatives for casual conversations, and remember its value lies in tempering criticism and providing a balanced perspective. While not extremely common, "despite its awkwardness" serves as a precise way to concede a flaw while emphasizing an offsetting strength.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of its clumsiness

Replaces "awkwardness" with "clumsiness", emphasizing a lack of grace or skill.

notwithstanding its difficulty

Uses "difficulty" instead of "awkwardness", focusing on the challenging nature of something.

regardless of its unease

Substitutes "awkwardness" with "unease", highlighting the discomfort it causes.

even with its imperfections

Replaces "awkwardness" with the broader term "imperfections", encompassing any flaws.

for all its ungainliness

Emphasizes a lack of physical or social grace, similar to "awkwardness".

with all its challenges

Focuses on the challenging aspects instead of the awkwardness itself.

despite its uncomfortable nature

Highlights the discomfort caused by the awkwardness.

even given its stiffness

Replaces "awkwardness" with "stiffness", suggesting a lack of fluidity or naturalness.

in defiance of its inelegance

Uses "inelegance" to highlight a lack of refinement or grace.

although it felt unnatural

Focuses on the unnatural or forced feeling associated with the awkwardness.

FAQs

How can I use "despite its awkwardness" in a sentence?

You can use "despite its awkwardness" to acknowledge a clumsy or uncomfortable aspect of something while still recognizing its positive qualities or outcomes. For instance, "The presentation was engaging, "despite its awkwardness", and the audience appreciated the effort."

What are some alternatives to saying "despite its awkwardness"?

Alternatives include "in spite of its clumsiness", "regardless of its unease", or "even with its imperfections". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to acknowledge awkwardness when using this phrase?

No, it is not always necessary. The phrase ""despite its awkwardness"" implies that there is some level of clumsiness, difficulty, or social discomfort involved, but you can use it even if the awkwardness is minor or perceived differently by others.

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

"Despite its awkwardness" suggests that something positive or successful happened in spite of the awkwardness, while "because of its awkwardness" implies that the awkwardness was the direct cause of a particular outcome or situation.