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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
despite the preceding
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "despite the preceding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of what has been mentioned before. Example: "Despite the preceding arguments, the committee decided to move forward with the proposal."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
7 human-written examples
Despite the preceding controversy, Chelsea deserved their lead, having shown persistence and drive after falling behind in somewhat slapstick circumstances.
News & Media
Of course, it's possible that this might be described as a standalone only for as long as it is the sole outing for DCI Karen Pirie, but despite the preceding encomiums for non-series novels, readers will be more than happy to see Karen reappear – particularly as developments regarding her character towards the end of the book will have readers turning the pages at an ever faster rate.
News & Media
Furthermore, according to the well-condition theorem, we know that well-posed iterative functions always exist, except the statement that the subsequent functions of iteration with step length 1 are all well posed, which means that despite the preceding well-posed functions, a subsequent function may be not well posed.
Despite the preceding caveats, we have provided some insight into the mechanism of transvection using the phiC31-integration strategy.
Science
The notion here is that COs can be done away with despite the preceding ideas that suggest their importance.
Science
Despite the preceding evidence, in England only 29% of women and 39% of men report doing sufficient physical activity to meet the minimum recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity per week [ 5].
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
52 human-written examples
McCarthy played all but nine minutes of Ireland's World Cup qualifying double-header against Georgia and Moldova last month despite missing the preceding six weeks as he recovered from groin surgery.
News & Media
Despite its moderate magnitude, the preceding magnitude 5.6 ML tremor caused several two-story buildings at a road intersection in the city to collapse.
Wiki
Despite the constructive approach of the preceding section, non-construcive approaches can also be quite interesting - yielding even bizarre results.
A typical millennial has earned £8,000 less during their twenties than those in the preceding generation, despite paying way more in rent and other living costs.
News & Media
Progressive respiratory failure and pulmonary infiltrates had developed over the preceding week despite administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "despite the preceding" to create a clear contrast between a set of circumstances and an unexpected outcome. Ensure the connection between the preceding information and the contrasting statement is evident to maintain coherence.
Common error
Avoid using "despite the preceding" when the subsequent statement doesn't genuinely contrast with the previous information. Ensure the relationship is one of concession or unexpected consequence, not merely additional information.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "despite the preceding" functions as a prepositional phrase, acting as an adverbial modifier. It introduces a contrasting element or circumstance that exists in spite of what has already been mentioned. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.
Frequent in
Science
43%
News & Media
43%
Wiki
14%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "despite the preceding" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrast or concession to information that has already been presented. As Ludwig confirms, it’s grammatically correct and suitable for neutral to formal contexts, appearing frequently in scientific and news-related writing. Remember to use this phrase when you want to highlight a surprising or unexpected outcome in relation to the prior information. Use this phrase when needing to demonstrate that the initial or the earlier elements are not important for the conclusion.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
despite the earlier
Shorter and slightly less formal, removing the emphasis on 'preceding'.
notwithstanding the previous
Emphasizes the lack of impact from the earlier statement, slightly more formal.
in spite of what was before
More conversational and direct than the original phrase.
regardless of the prior
Highlights the irrelevance of the earlier point, somewhat stronger.
irrespective of the above
Highlights that the prior statements are not relevant.
even with the above
Focuses on acknowledging the existing information while introducing a contrasting element.
in contrast to the former
Highlights a stronger opposition or difference compared to the previous statement.
yet, considering the former
Implies a reflective acknowledgement of the previous information.
even after all that
More emphatic and conversational, showing surprise or acknowledgement of difficulty.
subsequent to all of that
The events described did not affect the final outcome.
FAQs
How can I use "despite the preceding" in a sentence?
Use "despite the preceding" to introduce a contrasting element or outcome that might be unexpected given the information that has already been presented. For example, "Despite the preceding evidence, the jury acquitted the defendant."
What is a simpler alternative to "despite the preceding"?
Alternatives include "despite the earlier", "regardless of the prior", or "in spite of what was before", depending on the context.
Is there a difference between "despite the preceding" and "despite the following"?
"Despite the preceding" refers to information that has already been presented, while "despite the following" would refer to information that is about to be presented. They are used in opposite contexts.
When is it incorrect to use "despite the preceding"?
It's incorrect to use "despite the preceding" if the following statement does not present a contrast or unexpected outcome in relation to the earlier information. The phrase signals a surprising or concessive relationship.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested