despite the existence of

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite the existence of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to introduce a phrase that expresses a contrast between the previous subject and the current subject. For example: "Despite the existence of many social media platforms, people still rely on word-of-mouth to hear about products or services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"They can't control Dora, despite the existence of the American bases," she said.

The New York Times

Despite the existence of "data, data everywhere," managers still find themselves parched for reliable guidance.

Harvard Business Review

Despite the existence of a modern state bureaucracy, political influence is frequently determined by tribal affiliation.

Britannica

The first of the categories - outright discrimination - persists, despite the existence of the Equal Pay Act.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite the existence of healthcare, sanitation and electricity, morale in the camp is low, he says.

The Guardian

Despite the existence of various government-backed schemes, banks are just not lending.

The Guardian

The appeal of the paradigm, despite the existence of fundamental critiques is analysed.

Futures

Control plots were contaminated by groundwater flow despite the existence of buffer zones between plots.

Environmental Pollution

We find generally similar results, despite the existence of overlapping generations in trees.

Ecological Modelling

Previous studies documented considerable variability in the treatment of febrile infants, despite the existence of practice guidelines for this condition.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The best we could do was find joy in life and blackness despite the existence of perpetual subjugation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the existence of", ensure that the contrasting element is clearly stated in the subsequent part of the sentence to highlight the intended concession.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the existence of" when you actually want to emphasize the enabling effect of something. The phrase signals a contrast, not a cause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the existence of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause of concession. It sets up a contrast between the existence of something and a subsequent event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is used to create such contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the existence of" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrasting element. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples highlights its function in acknowledging a fact or condition while emphasizing that it does not prevent a subsequent outcome. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, this phrase signals a concessive relationship, offering a nuanced way to present information where one factor does not negate another. For greater impact, ensure the contrasting element is clear. Remember to avoid using it when you want to emphasize a cause-and-effect relationship rather than a concession.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the existence of

A synonym that directly replaces "despite" with "in spite of".

notwithstanding the presence of

Replaces "existence" with "presence", maintaining the concessive meaning.

regardless of the existence of

Highlights the lack of impact or influence of something.

even with the existence of

Emphasizes the concessive aspect by using "even with".

although there is the existence of

Restructures the phrase into a clause, using "although".

yet there is the existence of

Uses "yet" to introduce a contrasting element.

with the existence of, nevertheless

Adds "nevertheless" to emphasize the contrast.

in the face of the existence of

Highlights the challenging or opposing nature of the existence.

even if there exists

Changes the structure to a conditional clause, focusing on hypothetical existence.

taking into account the existence of

Suggests consideration of something, even if it doesn't change the outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "despite the existence of" to show a contrast. For example, "Despite the existence of evidence, some people still deny climate change."

What is a formal alternative to "despite the existence of"?

A more formal alternative is "notwithstanding the presence of". For instance, "Notwithstanding the presence of challenges, the project succeeded."

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

While "in spite of" and "despite" are similar, "despite the existence of" is more specific, highlighting the presence of something. Both convey a concession. You can use the alternative "in spite of the existence of".

What phrases are similar to "despite the existence of"?

Similar phrases include "even with", "regardless of", and "although there is". For example, "Regardless of the existence of difficulties, they persevered."