despite the proximity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the proximity of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of the closeness or nearness of something else. Example: "Despite the proximity of the storm, the event continued as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Despite the proximity of their new homes, the men never ran into each other.

The New Yorker

Despite the proximity of my parents' house to the women's prison, I'd never seen it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Despite the proximity of beaches, Fair Haven doesn't feel like a seasonal resort town.

The New York Times

Despite the proximity of Iraqi forces, the city was never occupied, and became a model of civilian resistance.

The Guardian

Mr. Schumchyk said he had "never experienced anything like this before" despite the proximity of his home and the airport.

The New York Times

Despite the proximity of more formidable nations, they managed for millennia to maintain their own culture and language.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Despite the lull, in Irbil the proximity of war is proving unsettling to the more than 1.2 million exiles who are now seeking refuge.

The Guardian

The new h-LND-mPoP-NPs formulation shows the ability to carry the drug to the proximity of the mitochondria despite the NP's negative zeta potential.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Despite the physical proximity of the occupation, that the effects of the subjugation are not seen or felt on their very doorstep allows them to exist as though they have not a care in the world, rather than engage with the highly precarious and highly suspect way in which their leaders oppress the Palestinians under their control.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, despite the close proximity of the N-terminal region with the BH3 domain, the N-terminal change occurred independent and downstream of BH3 domain exposure as BCL-XL-sequestered BAK existed exclusively in an N-terminal-occluded conformation.

Cell Reports

Despite the close proximity of the Iraqi soldiers, the Reaper's crew were able to direct a GBU-12 [Paveway] guided bomb on to the terrorist position and destroy it, without risk to the friendly forces," the MoD said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the proximity of", ensure that the contrast you are highlighting is clear and meaningful. The phrase works best when the closeness or nearness would logically suggest a different outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the proximity of" when the closeness or nearness doesn't inherently imply a conflicting expectation. Overusing the phrase can weaken your writing if the contrast isn't significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the proximity of" functions as a prepositional phrase, introducing a clause that expresses contrast or concession. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its use in various contexts, confirming its role in highlighting unexpected situations given the closeness of something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the proximity of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce a contrasting element, indicating that something occurs or is true regardless of the closeness of something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across various contexts. While it's most frequently seen in News & Media and Science, it's important to use it when a genuine contrast exists, as advised in the writing guidance. Consider using alternatives like "in spite of the nearness of" or "regardless of the adjacency of" for subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the nearness of

Replaces "despite" with "in spite of" and "proximity" with "nearness", offering a slightly more formal tone.

notwithstanding the closeness of

Uses "notwithstanding" and "closeness" for a more formal and emphatic expression of contrast.

regardless of the adjacency of

Employs "regardless" and "adjacency" to convey a sense of indifference to the spatial relation.

even with the vicinity of

Utilizes "even with" and "vicinity" to indicate that something happens despite being in the general area.

yet considering the short distance to

More verbose, emphasizing the short physical separation as a factor that makes the situation surprising.

though close to

A concise simplification, suitable for less formal contexts.

despite being adjacent to

Focuses on the direct connection by physical touching or boundary sharing.

even though it was near

Rephrases to emphasize the contradiction with the simple fact of being near.

while being in close range of

Highlights that something happened while something else was nearby.

in the face of its closeness to

Uses more figurative language implying facing an opposing force represented by the nearness of something else.

FAQs

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

Use "despite the proximity of" to show a surprising contrast. For example, "Despite the proximity of the airport, the neighborhood remained quiet" indicates the airport's nearness doesn't affect the area's tranquility.

What are some alternatives to "despite the proximity of"?

Alternatives include "in spite of the nearness of", "regardless of the adjacency of", or "even with the vicinity of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "despite the proximity of" or "in spite of the proximity of"?

Both "despite the proximity of" and "in spite of the proximity of" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, though "despite" is generally considered slightly more concise.

What does "proximity" mean in the context of "despite the proximity of"?

In the phrase "despite the proximity of", "proximity" refers to the state of being near in space, time, or relationship. The phrase indicates that something is happening or is true, even though something else is close by.