despite so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite so" is both correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is happening in spite of something else. An example sentence is: "Despite so many challenges, she refused to give up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It was a special time – despite so much murder".

The Guardian - Sport

"They insisted on executing an innocent man despite so much doubt around the case.

The Guardian

Despite so many years without a proper heyday, the building has survived.

The New York Times

Despite so much talk of unity here, divisions simmered close to the surface.

The New York Times

Of course, despite so much self-sacrifice, the heretics were doomed.

The New York Times - Travel

Despite so many return visits, I still feel I have barely scratched its surface.

The Guardian - Travel

There were no signs of the player holding back despite so long on the sidelines.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

And despite so-called austerity measures, budget deficits remain large.

The New York Times - Tech

So overall, we have seen more consumption, more debt, more disinvesting and indeed, we have seen more public spending despite so-called austerity by the government.

Independent

Maleficent took in almost $200 million over the weekend, despite so-so reviews.

HuffPost

The students were reacting exactly in line with their show's theme, following through with their projects despite so-called "distractions".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite so" to introduce a contrasting point that seems unexpected given the previous statement. It's effective when you want to highlight a surprising outcome or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "despite so" when a simple 'but' or 'however' would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound stilted or overly formal. Ensure the contrast you're highlighting truly warrants the emphasis of 'despite'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite so" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a sense of concession or contrast. It sets up a situation where something occurs contrary to what might be expected, given the preceding context, as Ludwig shows in several examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite so" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that signals concession or contrast. As Ludwig AI indicates, it effectively highlights situations where something occurs unexpectedly, given the previous context. Predominantly found in news, media, and scientific writing, it maintains a neutral register, suitable for both formal and slightly less formal contexts. For those seeking alternatives, phrases such as "even so", "nevertheless", and "in spite of that" offer similar meanings. While generally appropriate, overuse should be avoided to maintain clarity and prevent a stilted tone in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even so

This alternative offers a more concise way to indicate 'nevertheless' or 'in spite of that'.

in spite of that

This phrase explicitly conveys the idea of something happening regardless of what precedes it.

nevertheless

A formal adverb expressing contrast or concession.

nonetheless

Similar to 'nevertheless', but perhaps slightly less formal.

even though

Introduces a clause that contrasts with the main clause.

regardless

This single word emphasizes that something will happen no matter what.

notwithstanding

A formal term indicating 'in spite of'.

all the same

Indicates that something is true despite what has been said.

however

A simple conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement.

yet

A conjunction indicating contrast, often used in more literary contexts.

FAQs

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

You can use "despite so" to introduce a fact that contrasts with a previous statement. For example, "The team faced numerous setbacks; "despite so", they achieved their goals".

What are some alternatives to saying "despite so"?

Alternatives include "even so", "nevertheless", or "in spite of that", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "despite so" formal or informal?

"Despite so" leans towards being more formal, especially when compared to simpler alternatives like "but" or "however". Consider your audience and context when deciding whether to use it.

Can "despite so" always replace "although" or "even though"?

While they share a similar meaning of contrast, "despite so" is typically used to connect two independent clauses, whereas "although" or "even though" introduce a dependent clause. For instance, you can say "Even though it rained, we went to the park", but using "despite so" there would be grammatically incorrect. However, you could say "It rained; "despite so", we went to the park".