despite the closeness of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the closeness of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of the proximity or intimacy of a situation or relationship. Example: "Despite the closeness of their friendship, they often disagreed on important issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Despite the closeness of the race, there were underlying trends that appear to favor Mr. Gore.

The New York Times

"Despite the closeness of the count I have decided not to seek a recount.

The Guardian

Or that, despite the closeness of the race, turnout fell from 58.6percentt in 2012 to 58.1 in 2016?

The Washington Post

And voting experts project that despite the closeness of the race, turnout at the polls will not likely surpass 1996, and may dip further.

The New York Times

Saturday, despite the closeness of the result, showed that the difference between the two clubs is even wider than the 34 points in the table would suggest.

The Guardian - Sport

"This place is a haven," she says, and invites me listen to its near-silence, despite the closeness of a road.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Persimmon has become the latest business to confirm that consumer confidence held up ahead of the UK general election, despite concerns that the closeness of the opinion polls - erroneous as it turned out - would cool demand for housing.

The Guardian - Business

Despite increasing knowledge of the closeness of human and animal destiny, the "mutual obligation" so clearly defined by Charron is slow to advance.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

"Despite their public rhetoric about the closeness of their ties, officials in both China and North Korea each tell even American officials how much they dislike the other," said Mr. Straub, the North Korea specialist at Stanford.

The New York Times

It's nice to see the closeness of the family.

The Washington Post

That was shown by the closeness of the match.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the closeness of", ensure that the contrast you're drawing is clear and meaningful. The phrase works best when the expected outcome is defied by the existing proximity or connection. For instance, "Despite the closeness of the election, turnout was surprisingly low."

Common error

Avoid using "despite the closeness of" when there isn't a genuine sense of contrast or surprise. Ensure that the subsequent statement genuinely counters what one might expect given the existing closeness or proximity. For instance, don't say "Despite the closeness of the two cities, they share many similarities." because closeness typically implies similarities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the closeness of" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrasting element. As seen in Ludwig, it sets up a situation where a degree of proximity or intimacy exists, yet an unexpected or contrary outcome occurs. It is often used to create emphasis on this contrast.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

21%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the closeness of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrast, highlighting situations where proximity or connection does not lead to the expected outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in neutral to formal contexts, especially in News & Media, and Scientific domains. To ensure effective communication, always verify that a genuine sense of contrast exists, as misusing this phrase can weaken your intended message. Remember to consider alternatives like "regardless of the proximity of" or "in spite of the intimacy of" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of the proximity of

Replaces "closeness" with "proximity", focusing on physical nearness as the factor being overcome.

in spite of the intimacy of

Substitutes "closeness" with "intimacy", highlighting a personal or emotional connection that is being disregarded.

even though intimately connected to

Emphasizes the intimate connection more explicitly, while still conveying a sense of contradiction.

notwithstanding the adjacency of

Uses more formal language and focuses on the spatial relationship between things.

despite being near to

Simplifies the structure, making it more straightforward and less formal.

although intimately associated with

Highlights the association or relationship despite an unexpected outcome.

irrespective of the vicinity of

Focuses on the surroundings or immediate area, using more formal phrasing.

with no regard for the nearness of

Shifts the emphasis to a lack of consideration for the closeness.

without considering how closely related

Explicitly mentions the lack of consideration for relatedness.

even with the tight integration of

Highlights the deep intertwining of elements that are surprisingly separate.

FAQs

How can I use "despite the closeness of" in a sentence?

Use "despite the closeness of" to highlight a surprising contrast. For example, "Despite the closeness of the race, turnout fell from 58.6% in 2012 to 58.1 in 2016."

What's a less formal way to say "despite the closeness of"?

You could say "even though they're close" or "even though they're near" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "despite the closeness of" and "in spite of the closeness of"?

No, "in spite of the closeness of" is largely interchangeable with "despite the closeness of". They both express the same idea of something happening regardless of proximity or connection.

Can I use "despite the closeness of" to describe emotional relationships?

Yes, "despite the closeness of" can be used to describe emotional or interpersonal relationships. For instance, "Despite the closeness of their friendship, they often disagreed on important issues."