despite several promises

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite several promises" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred or was true even though there were multiple assurances to the contrary. Example: "Despite several promises to improve the service, the company continued to receive complaints from customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Despite several promises, Ms Gondrée-Anquetil refused to give them back.

Independent

And despite several promises from the studio, Ms. Harris was never made available for an interview.

The New York Times

However, it seems that the hunger strike is showing no signs of ending, despite several promises made by Obama to shutter the camp and release many of those who have been held there without charge for more than a decade.

The Guardian

Despite several promises from the SNP the estimated cost of the project has increased again and the deadline for completion has once again been pushed back.

BBC

Despite several promises by the government to build affordable homes for India's poor in densely populated cities, the country's urban housing shortage is estimated at nearly 19 million households.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This is the way Oak Cliff plays down-home Brooklyn (okay, the Brooklyn of 20 years ago) to Dallas's high-toned Manhattan: despite several promised rebirths — and this one seems to be taking — it has retained and even improved upon its scruffy, laissez-faire spirit.

The New York Times - Travel

Several promised to bring souvenirs back from their trip.

The Guardian

However, despite several drugs showing promise in animal models, few have currently progressed to clinical trials in DMD patients.

BioMed Research International

President Robert Mugabe, whose party won a narrow majority in Parliament a month ago, buoyed by his promise to redistribute land, has refused to remove the squatters, despite several court orders.

The New York Times

That is despite several brewing scandals.

The Economist

Despite several hospitalizations, he beat the odds.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite several promises", ensure the context clearly indicates what the promises were and how the actual outcome deviated from them. This enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "despite several promises" when the 'promises' were vague or non-specific. The phrase works best when referring to explicit assurances that were not fulfilled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite several promises" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrast or contradiction. It indicates that an expected outcome or action did not occur, even though there were multiple assurances that it would. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite several promises" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to introduce a contrast between assurances and actual outcomes. Ludwig confirms that. While not extremely common, it appears frequently in news and media, as well as some scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the specific promises and the resulting deviation. Alternatives include "notwithstanding multiple assurances" and "in spite of repeated commitments", which offer varying degrees of formality. Be mindful of the context to select the most appropriate phrase. The phrase is most effective when the promises are explicit and the failure to fulfill them is significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

notwithstanding multiple assurances

Replaces "despite" with "notwithstanding" and "promises" with the more formal "assurances".

in spite of repeated commitments

Substitutes "despite" with "in spite of" and uses "commitments" instead of "promises", implying a formal obligation.

even with various guarantees

Uses "even with" instead of "despite" and replaces "promises" with "guarantees", suggesting a higher level of certainty.

regardless of numerous pledges

Replaces "despite" with "regardless of" and uses "pledges" instead of "promises", which can imply a more public declaration.

although there were several assurances

Changes the structure to a clause beginning with "although", focusing on the existence of assurances.

despite a number of vows

Substitutes "several" with "a number of" and "promises" with "vows", which suggests a more solemn promise.

in the face of multiple undertakings

Uses the more formal "in the face of" for "despite" and replaces "promises" with "undertakings", indicating a formal agreement.

yet several assurances were given

Inverts the sentence structure, emphasizing that assurances were provided, but something contrary still occurred.

even after multiple commitments

Uses "even after" to highlight the sequence of events: commitments made, but something different happened.

however, several promises were broken

Explicitly states that promises were broken, adding a judgmental tone.

FAQs

How can I use "despite several promises" in a sentence?

You can use "despite several promises" to indicate that something happened or is true even though there were multiple assurances to the contrary. For example, "Despite several promises to improve the service, the company continued to receive complaints".

What are some alternatives to "despite several promises"?

Alternatives include "notwithstanding multiple assurances", "in spite of repeated commitments", or "regardless of numerous pledges".

Is it more formal to say "notwithstanding several promises" instead of "despite several promises"?

Yes, "notwithstanding multiple assurances" is generally considered more formal than "despite several promises". "Notwithstanding" is often used in legal or official contexts.

What is the difference between "despite many promises" and "despite several promises"?

The difference is subtle. "Several" implies more than two but not a large number, while "many" indicates a larger, less specific quantity. Both "despite many promises" and "despite several promises" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning.