despite my asking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite my asking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happened or did not happen regardless of the speaker's request or inquiry. Example: "Despite my asking for clarification, the instructions remained unclear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And this was despite my asking questions that Mr. Keller had called "prosecutorial" and "scab-pulling".

The New York Times

A number of friends and relatives never respond to invitations to parties at our house, despite my asking them to do so.

The New York Times

But despite my asking through a translator in a few different ways, I could not quite understand why she did without meat.

The New York Times

In typically boring European (and overly defensive) fashion, the full amount remains undisclosed, despite my asking nicely through gritted teeth.

TechCrunch

T-Mobile did not provide me with information on how many premium SMS services it operates, despite my asking multiple times.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The Asus booth monkey wouldn't open the case for some reason despite my persistent asking and joking.

TechCrunch

Despite already asking my taxi driver to heft three very large and heavy suitcases, I needed to convince him to allow me to use his phone.

Huffington Post

(You might assume from this that he had rumbled me. I'm not so sure. Despite asking my name, he insisted on calling me Jeremy).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I asked for permission to visit rural hospitals and clinics to do a "needs assessment" but was denied by the Health Ministry despite my having explicitly asked to visit these types of facilities long in advance of my trip.

Huffington Post

In mid-March I lost my Nationwide debit card and reported it missing – but despite repeatedly asking for a replacement I am still without it more than three months later.

The Guardian - Money

One judge wrote and said "good on you for blowing the whistle and refusing to be inveigled into jerkdom!" I took a risk and asked despite my inner critic.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite my asking", ensure the context clearly indicates what you asked for and the contrary outcome that resulted. This enhances clarity and emphasizes the unexpected nature of the result.

Common error

Avoid using "despite my asking" when the asking is not directly related to the outcome. The phrase implies a direct connection between the request and the subsequent event, so ensure this relationship is evident to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite my asking" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrast or concession. It sets up a situation where a request or inquiry was made, but the outcome was contrary to what was asked for. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "despite my asking" is a grammatically correct way to express that something occurred or didn't occur even after a request or inquiry was made. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is usable in written English. While relatively rare in overall usage, it appears in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science sources. For situations needing a more formal tone, alternatives such as "notwithstanding my plea" or "irrespective of my asking" can be used. Understanding the cause-effect relationship is crucial to using this phrase correctly, ensuring the request is clearly linked to the outcome. Remember that using "despite my asking" highlights the contrast between the request and the actual result, effectively conveying frustration or surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even though I asked

Replaces 'despite' with 'even though', creating a conjunction that introduces a clause of concession.

in spite of my request

Substitutes 'despite' with 'in spite of' and 'asking' with the noun 'request', maintaining the concessive meaning.

regardless of my inquiry

Replaces 'despite' with 'regardless of' and 'asking' with 'inquiry', emphasizing the lack of influence of the question.

notwithstanding my plea

Uses a more formal tone by substituting 'despite' with 'notwithstanding' and 'asking' with 'plea'.

even with my request

Similar to 'even though I asked' but highlights the request that was made.

though I had asked

A more concise way of saying "even though I asked", still indicating concession.

although I made the request

Uses 'although' instead of 'despite', emphasizing the action of making a request.

irrespective of my asking

Replaces 'despite' with 'irrespective of', stressing the lack of relevance of the asking.

however much I asked

Highlights the intensity or frequency of the asking, yet the outcome remained unaffected.

against my solicitation

Implies a more formal or persistent request (solicitation) was made, which was ultimately ignored.

FAQs

How can I use "despite my asking" in a sentence?

You can use "despite my asking" to show that something happened or didn't happen even though you requested otherwise. For example, "Despite my asking for a refund, the company refused to return my money."

What's a more formal alternative to "despite my asking"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "notwithstanding my plea" or "irrespective of my asking". These phrases convey a similar meaning but in a more elevated style.

Is there a difference between "despite my asking" and "in spite of my asking"?

The phrases "despite my asking" and "in spite of my request" are largely interchangeable. Both indicate that something occurred even though a request was made. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference.

Can I use "although I asked" instead of "despite my asking"?

Yes, you can use "although I made the request" or "even though I asked" as alternatives to "despite my asking". They both introduce a clause that contrasts with the main statement, highlighting the unexpected outcome.