despite the failures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the failures" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurred or was achieved regardless of previous unsuccessful attempts or setbacks. Example: "Despite the failures in the initial stages of the project, the team managed to deliver a successful final product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Despite the failures, La Russa prefers to qualify for the playoffs than not be there at all.

The New York Times

Despite the failures of the UN process and a tough economy, many firms are increasing their eco-friendly investments.

The Economist

He argued that, despite the failures of the five bipartisan groups that had tried to negotiate a budget deal last year, there was movement on the toughest issues.

The New Yorker

German has centuries of prestige in science, philosophy and literature, despite the failures of Germany's colonial efforts.But these results must be handled with care, the authors note.

The Economist

At the press conference, Gerstenmaier said Nasa and SpaceX would go ahead with the next scheduled supply flight on 3 July, despite the failures of the past three supply flights.

The Guardian

Many of the journalists, political analysts, and academics I met last week said that, despite the failures of notebandi's rollout, the program remained remarkably popular and does not appear to have dented Modi's standing.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

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

The New Yorker

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

The Guardian

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

The Guardian - Sport

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

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the failures", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what positive outcome or continued effort is occurring in spite of the setbacks. This provides context and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the failures" when the failures have completely halted progress. "Despite" implies continuation or achievement in the face of adversity, not total defeat.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the failures" functions as a prepositional phrase. It introduces a contrast or concession, indicating that a particular outcome or action occurs regardless of previous unsuccessful attempts or setbacks. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "despite the failures" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that introduces a contrast, indicating that an action or result occurs regardless of previous unsuccessful attempts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various registers, but ensure the sentence structure reflects that something positive or continued effort is happening in spite of these failures. Related phrases like "in spite of the setbacks" or "regardless of the setbacks" can offer slight variations in tone, while maintaining the core meaning. Be mindful not to use it when failures have completely halted progress, as "despite" implies a continuation or unexpected achievement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the setbacks

Replaces "failures" with a synonym focusing on obstacles, maintaining a similar tone and context.

regardless of the setbacks

Emphasizes lack of impact from negative outcomes, closely mirroring the original meaning.

despite the shortcomings

Focuses on imperfections but is a more direct substitution for the original phrase.

notwithstanding the problems

Uses a more formal term for difficulties, keeping the core meaning of proceeding despite them.

failures notwithstanding

A more concise and formal way to express the same idea, suitable for certain contexts.

even with the shortcomings

Highlights imperfections, suggesting progress continues despite existing flaws.

despite the earlier problems

Specifies that the problems occurred in the past, adding a temporal aspect.

in the face of the difficulties

Emphasizes confronting challenges head-on, a slight shift in focus but still related.

even though there were flaws

Introduces a subordinate clause, maintaining the core idea of acknowledging flaws without stopping.

regardless of its limitations

Shifts the focus to constraints or limits rather than outright failures, which can be useful depending on context.

FAQs

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

Use "despite the failures" to show that something positive or continued effort is happening even though there have been setbacks. For example, "Despite the failures in the initial trials, the team remained committed to finding a solution."

What phrases are similar to "despite the failures"?

You can use phrases like "in spite of the setbacks", "regardless of the setbacks", or "notwithstanding the problems" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "in spite of the failures" instead of "despite the failures"?

Yes, "in spite of the failures" is a correct and very similar alternative to "despite the failures". Both phrases are used to indicate that something is happening or true even though there have been setbacks.

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

"Despite the failures" indicates something happened even though failures occurred, implying a lack of impact from the failures. "Because of the failures" indicates that something happened as a result of the failures, implying causation.