despite the difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

'despite the difficulty' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used to express that something is done despite having a difficult time doing it or that something happened in spite of the difficulty. For example: "Despite the difficulty, the team managed to finish the project successfully."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite the difficulty, Ginge is hopeful it'll work out.

The Guardian

And best of all, he wanted to see me again, despite the difficulty and distance.

The New York Times

He was brave and courageous, wanting to work despite the difficulty with his hearing and sight".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This, despite the difficulty many people had logging on to the registry's Web site, www.donotcall.gov.

The New York Times

Despite the difficulty of getting there, though, Mercury is a juicy target.

The Economist

Despite the difficulty, states confronting suicide attacks must take measures to prevent them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I remain medium-term optimistic," he said, despite the difficulty of dealing with so many warlords.

Independent

What made Mata's different was that, despite the difficulty of the technique, he placed it beautifully.

Independent

But it takes immense time, effort, dedication and the strength to continue despite the difficulty each stage poses.

Stanford University

Despite the difficulty to adapt to an EMR back home, the drawbacks of a paper system were obvious in Ecuador.

Stanford University

Despite the difficulty of the routines and the remarkable spectacle of it all, the fliers left class barely winded.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the difficulty", ensure that the main clause clearly indicates what action or outcome was achieved in spite of the challenge. This creates a strong sense of accomplishment or resilience.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the difficulty" when the difficulty is the central focus of the sentence, rather than something overcome. Ensure the sentence highlights the achievement or action taken, not just the problem itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the difficulty" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by providing a concessive circumstance. It indicates that an action or outcome occurs regardless of the presence of a challenge or obstacle, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the difficulty" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrasting idea, emphasizing that something occurs even when faced with challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and the phrase is very common across varied contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. When writing with this phrase, ensure to clearly indicate the achieved outcome and avoid using it when focusing solely on the difficulty itself. Consider alternatives like "even with the challenge" or "in spite of the complexity" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite the complexities

This phrase is similar to the original, but it emphasizes multiple difficulties.

even with the challenge

This alternative replaces "difficulty" with "challenge", emphasizing the presence of an obstacle.

in spite of the complexity

This phrase uses "complexity" instead of "difficulty", highlighting the intricate nature of the obstacle.

faced with the difficulty

This alternative changes the focus to confrontation with the difficulty.

regardless of the obstacle

This variant emphasizes that the action occurs without being affected by the obstacle.

notwithstanding the problem

This option uses a more formal tone, replacing "difficulty" with "problem".

even given the hardships

This phrase replaces "difficulty" with "hardships", which increases the focus on negative conditions.

with all the obstacles

This option emphasizes the totality of obstacles present.

in the face of the adversity

This phrase uses "adversity" which conveys a more challenging or unfavorable condition.

confronted with the problems

This alternative highlights direct engagement with several problems.

FAQs

How can I use "despite the difficulty" in a sentence?

Use "despite the difficulty" to introduce a contrasting element, showing that something was achieved or continued even when faced with challenges. For example, "Despite the difficulty, the team completed the project on time".

What are some alternatives to saying "despite the difficulty"?

You can use alternatives such as "even with the challenge", "in spite of the complexity", or "regardless of the obstacle" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "despite the difficulty" or "in spite of the difficulty"?

"Despite the difficulty" and "in spite of the difficulty" are largely interchangeable. Both phrases indicate that something happens even though there is a challenge, however, "despite" is more commonly used.

Can "despite the difficulty" be used at the end of a sentence?

While less common, "despite the difficulty" can be placed at the end of a sentence for emphasis, though it may sound less formal. For example, "They persevered, "despite the difficulty"".