despite the

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite the" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a phrase or clause that contrasts with what came before it. For example: "Despite the harsh winter weather, the outdoor concert was well-attended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Despite the cold).

The New Yorker

Despite the weather.

The New Yorker

Despite the French maid outfit!

The New York Times

Despite the progress, uncertainty looms.

The New York Times

Despite the changing environment, Granby kept winning.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite the generous terms, most banks balked.

The New York Times

Despite the crush, the atmosphere was giddy.

The New York Times

Despite the strike, Christmas decorations are up.

The New Yorker

Despite the daily torments, I never complained.

The New Yorker

Despite the market disparity, the global I.P.O.

The New York Times

Despite the friction, concrete progress was made.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the", ensure that the contrasting element introduced is genuinely unexpected or presents an obstacle to the main clause. This strengthens the sense of concession and adds depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the" when the outcome is a natural or logical consequence of the condition mentioned. Doing so weakens the phrase's impact. For example, instead of saying "Despite the sunny weather, people went to the beach" (which is expected), consider a more contrasting scenario like "Despite the storm warnings, people went to the beach."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a contrast or concession. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it sets up a situation where something occurs or is true even though an opposing factor exists. Examples in Ludwig illustrate this by showing how actions or states persist even with a contrary condition present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the" is a versatile and frequently used prepositional phrase that introduces an element of contrast or concession. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for a wide array of contexts, particularly in news, media, encyclopedias, and science, signaling an unexpected outcome or the overcoming of an obstacle. While alternatives like "in spite of the" exist, understanding the correct application of "despite the" enhances clarity and impact in writing, ensuring the contrasting element is genuinely noteworthy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the

Uses a different prepositional phrase to convey the same meaning of disregarding an obstacle or circumstance.

notwithstanding the

A more formal synonym indicating that something is true even though something else might make it seem not to be.

even with the

Highlights that something occurs even when considering a particular condition or situation.

regardless of the

Emphasizes that something happens without being affected by a specific factor.

in the face of

Implies that something is confronted or withstood despite a challenge.

for all of

Indicates that something is true despite something else that might detract from it.

with all

Indicates that something is true even if something else might detract from it.

yet with

Highlights a contrast or unexpected outcome given a particular circumstance.

but even with

Implies something unexpected, considering the circumstances

although facing

Introduces a contrast, specifying a condition that might have prevented something else.

FAQs

How to use "despite the" in a sentence?

Use "despite the" to introduce a noun or noun phrase that presents a contrast or unexpected element to the main clause. For example, "Despite the rain, the parade continued."

What can I say instead of "despite the"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of the", "notwithstanding the", or "even with the" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "despite the" or "in spite of the"?

Both "despite the" and "in spite of the" are correct and have the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference, though "despite the" might be considered slightly more concise.

What's the difference between "despite" and "despite the"?

"Despite" is used before a noun or pronoun, while "despite the" is used before a noun phrase that includes the definite article "the". For example, "Despite challenges, they succeeded" versus "Despite the challenges, they succeeded".