despite the difficulties

USAGE SUMMARY

'despite the difficulties' is correct and usable in written English.
It means 'in spite of the difficulties', and is used to emphasize that something is still done or happened even though there were difficulties in the way. For example: "Despite the difficulties, she managed to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite the difficulties, sizable earnouts are quite common.

Harvard University

But despite the difficulties, satellites sprang up quickly.

Harvard Business Review

But despite the difficulties, she rated Women's News a success.

The New York Times

Despite the difficulties, the U.S. official said the process is running more smoothly now.

The Washington Post

Despite the difficulties, Mauricio said he knew there was no turning back.

The Guardian

But despite the difficulties, his work received positive reviews while he was there.

The New York Times

Marina resists the idea of leaving, despite the difficulties of her life in Soviet Russia.

The New Yorker

Despite the difficulties ahead, the East Timorese were in high spirits on Sunday night.

The New York Times

He said today: "Despite the noise, despite the difficulties, we won.

The Guardian

Congolese create anyway, despite the difficulties of living in a broken state.

The New Yorker

"Despite the difficulties, the possibilities to win in the negotiations are large," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the difficulties", ensure it's followed by a statement that contrasts with or overcomes those difficulties, creating a clear sense of resilience or success.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the difficulties" when the sentence does not clearly demonstrate a contrasting outcome or achievement. The phrase implies overcoming an obstacle, so ensure this is evident in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the difficulties" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to introduce a contrasting element or to concede a challenge before presenting a positive outcome. Ludwig AI validates that this expression follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the difficulties" is a grammatically sound and versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrast between challenges and outcomes. As validated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable across various contexts. Ludwig's examples reveal its common usage in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, ensure a contrasting element is evident, highlighting resilience or achievement. The phrase's authoritative sources and high frequency confirm its widespread acceptance and utility in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the hardships

This alternative highlights the severity of the difficulties faced.

in the face of adversity

This alternative emphasizes the presence of challenging circumstances, highlighting the act of overcoming them.

even with the problems

This alternative is simpler and more direct, focusing on the existence of problems without dwelling on their severity.

withstanding the trials

This alternative emphasizes endurance and resilience in the face of hardships.

notwithstanding the challenges

This alternative uses a more formal tone, emphasizing that the challenges do not negate the main point.

regardless of the setbacks

This alternative emphasizes that the progress continues without being affected by the setbacks.

even given the obstacles

This phrasing acknowledges the obstacles but proceeds to discuss the main point.

challenges notwithstanding

A concise and formal way to acknowledge the presence of difficulties, similar to "notwithstanding the challenges".

against all odds

This alternative highlights a situation where success was improbable given the challenges.

while acknowledging the issues

This alternative emphasizes the awareness of the issues while maintaining focus on the primary subject.

FAQs

How to use "despite the difficulties" in a sentence?

Use "despite the difficulties" to introduce a situation where something positive or unexpected happens in spite of challenges. For example, "Despite the difficulties, the project was a success".

What can I say instead of "despite the difficulties"?

You can use alternatives like "in the face of adversity", "notwithstanding the challenges", or "in spite of the hardships" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "despite the difficulties"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "despite the difficulties", as it functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrast.

What is the difference between "despite the difficulties" and "because of the difficulties"?

"Despite the difficulties" indicates that something happened in spite of problems, whereas "because of the difficulties" indicates that the difficulties caused something to happen. They have opposite meanings.