despite saying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite saying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of what was previously stated. Example: "Despite saying that he would attend the meeting, he never showed up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And, despite saying that Iraq doesn't need many U.S. troops, he has acquiesced to their presence.

The Washington Post

Mr. Albrecht, who despite saying he "absolutely loves" the series, said, essentially, yes.

The New York Times

SNP MPs backed the Bill despite saying it fell "far short" of what had previously been promised.

Independent

2. Force India has yet to announce its drivers, despite saying it would do so in December.

The New York Times

Despite saying that would be his last stint in the top job, Mr Blatter decided to stand again in 2015.

The Economist

The sexual health results were not as promising as in QoL and lower urinary tract function, despite saying they were happy with the surgical outcomes and were able to reassume their life.

Urología Colombiana

Despite saying she believed it would be "a large number," Petrocelli argued that Fenwick's beliefs did not constitute hard evidence.

The Washington Post

But Babcock International fell 10.5p to 963p despite saying its full year performance was in line with expectations.

The Guardian - Business

Despite saying he would not negotiate under fire, he made an effort to restart talks while the violence was raging.

The New York Times

But building materials group Travis Perkins has lost 66p to £21.94 despite saying it was trading in line with forecasts.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Head coach Grant Bradburn insists Majid Haq still has a Scotland future, despite saying the spinner was "deemed unselectable" for the World T20.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite saying", ensure that the statement being contrasted is clearly identified and relevant to the subsequent clause. This helps maintain clarity and coherence in your writing.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently after "despite saying". Ensure the verb tense in the clause following "despite saying" logically connects to the initial statement to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite saying" functions as an adversative conjunction, linking two clauses where the second clause presents a situation that contrasts with or is unexpected given the statement in the first clause. Ludwig AI confirms this is a standard grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite saying" is a commonly used and grammatically correct conjunction phrase that effectively introduces a contrast between a statement and a subsequent action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established in English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with significant use in scientific and formal writing as well. While versatile, remember to ensure consistent verb tenses and consider more formal alternatives for highly academic or professional settings. When writing, "despite saying" helps to highlight unexpected outcomes or contradictions, adding depth and nuance to your sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

although mentioning

A more concise alternative, replacing "despite" with "although" and "saying" with "mentioning".

while claiming

Similar to "although mentioning", offering a more concise way to express the contrast.

even though stating

Replaces "despite" with "even though" and "saying" with "stating", maintaining the contrastive meaning.

in spite of asserting

Similar to "despite saying", but uses "in spite of" and "asserting" for a slightly different nuance.

yet affirming

Uses "yet" to introduce the contrast and "affirming" as a more formal alternative to "saying".

notwithstanding the statement that

Uses a more formal tone to convey the same contrast, emphasizing the statement being contradicted.

however expressing

Emphasizes the contrast using "however" while replacing "saying" with "expressing".

regardless of the declaration that

Emphasizes the lack of regard for the declaration, highlighting the contrast.

contrary to the claim that

Highlights the contradiction between the actual situation and the previous claim.

even with the provision that

Indicates that something happens even with a specific condition or statement in place.

FAQs

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

Use "despite saying" to introduce a contrasting action or situation following a statement. For example, "Despite saying he was tired, he stayed up all night working".

What are some alternatives to "despite saying"?

You can use alternatives like "even though stating", "notwithstanding the statement that", or "in spite of asserting" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "despite saying" and "although saying"?

While similar, "despite saying" emphasizes a contrast or unexpected outcome more strongly than "although saying". "Despite" suggests a greater degree of surprise or contradiction.

Can "despite saying" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "despite saying" is acceptable in formal writing, but more formal alternatives like "notwithstanding the statement that" or "in spite of asserting" might be preferred in some contexts.