despite the failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the failure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurred or was achieved regardless of a failure that took place. Example: "Despite the failure of the initial plan, the team managed to find a successful alternative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Despite the failure to deliver a winning season, Vanderlinden did oversee substantive improvement in the program.

Wikipedia

Both the United States and Cuba claimed victory, despite the failure of both amendments.

The New York Times

Despite the failure of yesterday's talks, Unison remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached.

The Guardian

Despite the failure of this month's meeting in Washington, the situation is far from hopeless.

The New Yorker

"I'm very excited about the Internet," says Mr Bowmer, despite the failure of so many dotcoms.

The Economist

That July, Reagan nominated Robert Bork to the Court, and, despite the failure of Bork's nomination, originalism never looked back.

The New Yorker

Despite the failure of the bid, Parma's chairman said the stadium's enhancement and improvements will still continue.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite the failure to extend the moratorium, US trade officials said it will remain in place until the WTO reconvenes.

The Guardian

Despite the failure to find WMDs he does not accept that going to war was the wrong decision.

The Guardian

Despite the failure of the central-corridor plan, Portugal retained a large African empire (about 8 percent of the continent).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Only local officials face charges for the Iguala disappearances, despite the failure of state, federal and military officials, allegedly informed of the abductions, to immediately pursue the kidnappers.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the failure", ensure the sentence clearly articulates what occurred or was achieved after or in light of the failure, to maintain clarity and coherence.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the failure" when the failure directly caused the subsequent negative outcome. The phrase is meant to show resilience in spite of a failure, not because of it. For example, it would be inappropriate to say "Despite the failure of the brakes, the car stopped safely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the failure" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a clause by indicating a contrast or concession. It introduces a situation that exists or occurs even though there was a failure. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

21%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the failure" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to introduce a situation where something notable occurs even after a failure. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is perfectly acceptable for use in writing. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase serves to highlight resilience or unexpected outcomes. When using this phrase, ensure that the contrast between the failure and the subsequent event is clear and logical. Alternatives like "in spite of the failure" or "regardless of the failure" can be used for variety, but "despite the failure" remains a straightforward and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the failure

Uses "in spite of" as a direct replacement for "despite", keeping the meaning nearly identical.

notwithstanding the failure

Replaces "despite" with "notwithstanding", a more formal synonym, but retains the same structure and meaning.

regardless of the failure

Highlights that the outcome was not affected by the failure, adding a sense of indifference.

even with the failure

Emphasizes the coexistence of the failure and the subsequent event, differing slightly in tone.

failure notwithstanding

Inverts the structure for emphasis, placing the failure as a condition that does not impede the outcome.

the failure notwithstanding

Similar to "failure notwithstanding", but with "the" added for emphasis.

although the failure occurred

Rephrases as a subordinate clause, explicitly stating the occurrence of the failure.

the setback notwithstanding

Using 'setback' as a more general term for failure, but keeping the sentence structure.

even if there was a failure

Introduces a hypothetical element, covering cases where a failure might exist.

with the failure not preventing

More descriptive, highlighting that the failure did not stop the subsequent event.

FAQs

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

Use "despite the failure" to introduce a situation where something positive or unexpected occurred even though there was a failure. For example, "Despite the failure of the initial plan, the team found a new strategy".

What are some alternatives to "despite the failure"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of the failure", "notwithstanding the failure", or "regardless of the failure" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "despite of the failure"?

No, the correct phrase is "despite the failure". The preposition "of" is not needed after "despite". Using "in spite of the failure" is also correct.

How does "despite the failure" differ from "because of the failure"?

"Despite the failure" indicates that something happened in spite of a setback, while "because of the failure" indicates that the failure caused something to happen. They have opposite meanings.