despite the passing of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the passing of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or remains true regardless of the passage of time or the occurrence of an event. Example: "Despite the passing of many years, their friendship remained strong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Despite the passing of checks in restaurant basements, I guess there is that hope.

The New York Times

Where none of the actors looked a day older than episode one despite the passing of 15 years.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And yet despite the passing of the act, evidence shows that the pay gap between men and women remains.

The Guardian - Opinion

It provides no model for commemorating a conflict that, despite the passing of five decades, is still a source of shame or rage for many Americans.

The New Yorker

Now, just a few years from its 40th anniversary, Clue is still delivering top-drawer consistency, despite the passing of beyond-legendary chairman Humphrey Lyttelton.

The Guardian

Yet despite the passing of the Act and the investigation by the Metropolitan Police of more than 300 cases, only one person, Anthony Sawoniuk – a former policeman in Nazi-occupied Belarus – has been successfully convicted.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Despite this, years after the passing of the 1973 act and the excavation of the ship, lingering conflicts with salvage legislation remained a threat to the Mary Rose project as "personal" finds such as chests, clothing and cooking utensils risked being confiscated and auctioned off.

Wikipedia

The following month the Austrian emperor Ferdinand I (King Ferdinand V of Hungary) appointed Batthyány prime minister of Hungary's new parliamentary government, which took office on April 7. Despite his able leadership and the passing of important social legislation, his government was caught between the forces of the Austrian monarchy and the extreme separatist Hungarian elements.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite tremendous research efforts and the passing of a decade since the publication of the Plasmodium falciparum genome sequence [ 2], about a half of the genes still remain annotated as coding for 'hypothetical proteins' or 'conserved hypothetical proteins' [ 3].

Briefings in Functional Genomics

Despite progress in recent years and the passing of federal legislation to address the issue, the problem screams for more attention and action.

Huffington Post

However, Bach confirmed previously that he had received assurance from Russian president Vladimir Putin that gay athletes will not face discrimination in Sochi, despite the recent passing of national laws banning "gay propaganda" in the country.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the passing of", ensure that the subsequent part of the sentence clearly states what remains unaffected or continues to be true. This helps maintain clarity and strengthens the contrast being highlighted.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the passing of" when there isn't a clear contrast between the passage of time/events and the continued state or action. Ensure the sentence highlights a surprising or unexpected persistence despite the elapsed time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the passing of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a contrasting element. It sets up a scenario where one might expect a change due to the passage of time, but something remains constant. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples confirming this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the passing of" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrast, highlighting the persistence of something despite the passage of time or events. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and finds common usage in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news and media. When employing this phrase, ensure that the contrasting element is clearly stated to maximize clarity and impact. While effective, simpler alternatives may exist depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even with the passage of

Replaces 'despite' with 'even with' and uses 'passage' instead of 'passing', maintaining the core meaning but altering the phrasing.

in spite of the time elapsed

Replaces 'despite' with 'in spite of' and clarifies 'passing of' with 'time elapsed'.

notwithstanding the lapse of

Uses 'notwithstanding' and 'lapse' to create a more formal tone while expressing the same concept.

regardless of the time that has passed

Uses 'regardless of' for 'despite' and expands on the 'passing of' to emphasize the time aspect.

even after the occurrence of

Focuses on the 'occurrence' rather than the 'passing', suitable when referring to specific events.

although time has gone by

A more direct and slightly less formal alternative, emphasizing the simple passage of time.

despite the lapse in

This version uses 'lapse' which can imply a decline or a break in something. The meaning is subtlely changed to focus on that 'something'.

with all that has passed

A more concise and somewhat poetic way of saying the same thing, suitable for reflective contexts.

in the face of passing

Focuses on confronting the passage of time or events, suggesting a sense of resilience or defiance.

regardless of the march of time

Uses a metaphor ('march of time') to convey the passage of time, adding a dramatic or literary flair.

FAQs

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

Use "despite the passing of" to show that something remains true or continues to happen even after a certain amount of time has elapsed or an event has occurred. For example, "Despite the passing of several years, the old house still stood strong".

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

Similar phrases include "even with the passage of", "notwithstanding the lapse of", or "in spite of the time elapsed". Each carries a slightly different nuance but expresses a similar contrast.

Is it always necessary to use "despite the passing of", or are there simpler alternatives?

No, it's not always necessary. Simpler alternatives like "even after" or "still" can often convey the same meaning more concisely, depending on the context. The choice depends on the level of formality and emphasis you want to achieve.

What's the difference between "despite the passing of" and "because of the passing of"?

"Despite the passing of" indicates that something persists in spite of time or events, creating a contrast. "Because of the passing of" indicates that something happens as a result of time or events, showing a cause-and-effect relationship. They have opposite meanings.