despite struggling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite struggling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that you are having difficulty achieving something, but you are still pushing through. For example: "Despite struggling with the challenge, I eventually completed the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Writing

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

And despite struggling with the Q&A, up he went.

Independent

It has my vote, despite struggling in its sophomore season.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Despite struggling offensively, Marist (7-11, 3-6 M.A.A.C).

The New York Times - Sports

By 16, he had become an accomplished skateboarder despite struggling with O.C.D.

The New York Times - Arts

Despite struggling with injuries all year, Roddick has played extremely well in his first three matches.

The New York Times

Sam Burgess starred for the Rabbitohs, alongside Reynolds, despite struggling with a hip injury.

The Guardian - Sport

Those were important factors to their starting pitcher, Mike Thurman, who won his Yankees debut despite struggling early on.

The New York Times - Sports

Sarries won at Northampton despite struggling at times in the lineout and scrum and conceding a rash of penalties.

The Guardian - Sport

Running back Ron Dayne started despite struggling to return to practice last week with a calf injury.

The New York Times - Sports

Cabrera followed up that startling accomplishment with another strong season at the plate despite struggling to stay healthy.

The Guardian - Sport

The Bulldogs have returned some order to the rivalry in taking the last two games despite struggling over all: Georgia lost a combined 12 games from 2009-10.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite struggling" to show contrast between an ongoing effort and a positive outcome or continued action. It adds depth by acknowledging the difficulty involved.

Common error

Avoid using "despite struggling" when there's no clear contrast to be made. If the struggle directly leads to failure without any mitigating factors, a different construction might be more appropriate. For example, avoid "Despite struggling, they failed" and use "Because they struggled, they failed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite struggling" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate concession or contrast. It introduces a circumstance that might be expected to prevent or hinder an action, yet the action still occurs. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Sports

18%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "despite struggling" is a versatile and frequently used adverbial phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and serves to emphasize resilience and perseverance when faced with difficulties. It commonly appears in news, sports reporting, and general writing contexts, indicating a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure a clear contrast is presented, showcasing an action or outcome that persists despite the challenges faced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even when challenged

Emphasizes facing a challenge directly while still achieving something.

even with setbacks

Specifically refers to encountering setbacks, implying temporary impediments.

although challenged

Similar to 'even when challenged', but places more emphasis on the challenge.

in spite of hardship

Highlights the severity of the difficulty being overcome.

notwithstanding difficulties

A more formal way to say 'despite difficulties'.

in the face of difficulty

Emphasizes confronting difficulty directly.

regardless of the difficulty

Highlights a determined attitude that is not affected by the difficulty.

with effort despite the challenge

Adds the aspect of effort while highlighting that struggle is involved.

while facing adversity

Adversity suggests a more sustained or systemic form of difficulty.

against the odds

A more figurative expression suggesting a low probability of success.

FAQs

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

Use "despite struggling" to show that someone is facing difficulties but is still managing to achieve something or continue with an action. For example, "Despite struggling with injuries, the athlete still managed to win the race".

What are some alternatives to saying "despite struggling"?

You can use alternatives like "even when challenged", "in spite of hardship", or "regardless of the difficulty" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "despite struggling, but"?

No, using "but" after "despite struggling" is redundant. "Despite" already indicates a contrast, so adding "but" creates an unnecessary repetition. Use either "despite struggling" or "struggling, but".

What's the difference between "despite struggling" and "because of struggling"?

"Despite struggling" implies that something positive or continued effort occurred in spite of the difficulty. "Because of struggling" indicates that the difficulty caused a certain outcome. The two phrases have opposite meanings.