despite miles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite miles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of the distance involved. Example: "Despite miles between us, we still manage to stay connected through regular video calls."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Best Cheap Beach Tobago doesn't have the prettiest beaches, despite miles of undeveloped coastline.

The New York Times - Travel

Despite miles of skyscrapers and pavement in New York City, nature has not lost its foothold, at least not yet.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the campaign, Skype showcased the story of two teenage girls who, despite living miles apart, had the similarity of being born without a full left arm.

The Guardian

White, who had retired in France, knew this guide would be his last, but, as the Times noted: Despite the miles separating the guide's two authors, Mr. White's role is hardly insignificant.

The New Yorker

To the naked eye, the effects of the spill are still seen only sporadically, when the oil washes up in big patches despite the miles of boom that have been placed offshore.

The New York Times

Despite the miles that separate them, these cases have two things in common.

Huffington Post

Despite being miles away from Vietnam, I will never forget the promises I made to those mothers in Saigon.

Huffington Post

But there is a price to pay when we remake the world over in our image, when everywhere is familiar despite the miles we have travelled.

Huffington Post

In short, the French stayed the course on clean nuclear power, despite Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, and we ran for cover.

The New York Times

Despite the mile-high setting, the town has purposely left downhill skiing out of the equation, keeping tourists and traffic from congesting the stoplight-free streets.

The New York Times

The construction reaffirms the French choice for nuclear power, which was made in the late 1950s, intensified during the oil shocks of the 1970s and maintained despite Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite miles" to create a slightly more poetic or emphatic effect than simply saying "regardless of distance". It's suitable when emphasizing the challenge or barrier that distance presents.

Common error

Avoid using "despite miles" in contexts where the distance is negligible or irrelevant. It implies a significant separation that might be perceived as a challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite miles" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or state occurs in spite of a significant distance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable but not very common.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite miles" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to emphasize that something occurs regardless of a significant distance. Although Ludwig AI marks it as correct, it's relatively rare and found primarily in news media and wiki contexts. Alternative phrases like "regardless of distance" are more common, but "despite miles" offers a more emphatic or slightly poetic tone. When using this phrase, consider the context to ensure the distance is truly a relevant factor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of distance

This alternative directly replaces "despite miles" with a more common expression of the same idea.

in spite of the distance

This uses a different preposition but maintains the same logical relationship and meaning.

even with the distance

This alternative rephrases the sentence to highlight the presence of distance and the subsequent action.

notwithstanding the miles

This is a more formal way of saying "despite the miles".

irrespective of the distance

A formal alternative meaning "regardless of the distance".

distance notwithstanding

A more concise, formal version emphasizing the irrelevance of distance.

though separated by miles

This rephrases the sentence to specifically mention separation by distance.

even if miles apart

This highlights the condition of being separated by miles and the continuation of action.

across the miles

This alternative shifts the focus to acting or connecting over a distance.

miles notwithstanding

Emphasizes the irrelevance of the distance in achieving something.

FAQs

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

You can use "despite miles" to emphasize that something is true or happening even when there is a significant distance involved. For example, "despite miles between us, we still manage to stay connected".

What can I say instead of "despite miles"?

You can use alternatives like "regardless of distance", "in spite of the distance", or "even with the distance" depending on the context.

Is it more common to say "despite the miles" or "despite miles"?

"Despite the miles" is generally more common and grammatically standard. Using "despite miles" without "the" is less frequent, but still understandable in certain contexts, especially where a more concise or poetic style is desired.

What does "despite miles" emphasize compared to "regardless of distance"?

"Despite miles" often carries a stronger emotional weight, highlighting the potential difficulty or challenge presented by the distance. "Regardless of distance" is more neutral and factual.