despite the setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is being accomplished or continued in spite of an obstacle or difficulty encountered. Example: "Despite the setback, the team managed to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Despite the setback, he continued.

The Guardian

Despite the setback, the preview goes well.

The Guardian

So despite the setback, Selig gained one significant victory.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite the setback Tottenham continued to press forward.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite the setback, Yao remained upbeat during an interview with ESPN.com.

The New York Times

Despite the setback, Mr. Norwood said the experience "kind of planted a seed in me".

The New York Times

Despite the setback, Buzbee remained determined to capture a piece of the lucrative Florida market.

The New York Times - Magazine

Despite the setback, those involved continue publicly to laud the project's green credentials.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Protesters did not appear ready to give up the fight -- or the occupation of Zuccotti -- despite the setback.

Huffington Post

Despite the setback, Mattel seems poised to continue its slow climb back to profitability.

The New York Times

Despite the setback in Chinese culture under Mongol rule, the period was not devoid of positive cultural development.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone and audience when using this phrase. While versatile, it's appropriate for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "despite of the setback". The correct form is "despite the setback", without the "of". "Despite" functions as a preposition and doesn't require "of" in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the setback" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by introducing a contrasting element. It indicates that the action or state described in the main clause occurs in spite of a prior difficulty or obstacle. Examples from Ludwig show usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the setback" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something continues or progresses even after an obstacle or difficulty has been encountered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, from news and media to academic writing. The phrase signals resilience and is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. Common errors include the incorrect usage of "despite of", which should be avoided. Alternatives like "in spite of the setback" and "even with the difficulty" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the difficulty

A direct synonym, using "in spite of" instead of "despite".

even with the difficulty

Replaces "setback" with "difficulty" and uses "even with" instead of "despite".

notwithstanding the obstacle

Substitutes "setback" with "obstacle" and employs the more formal term "notwithstanding".

regardless of the problem

Replaces "setback" with the more general term "problem" and "regardless of" instead of "despite".

even after the hindrance

Uses "even after" and replaces "setback" with "hindrance", changing the sentence structure slightly.

the situation notwithstanding

A more sophisticated construction, using "notwithstanding" to acknowledge the situation.

the problem notwithstanding

A more sophisticated construction, using "notwithstanding" to acknowledge the problem.

yet the progress continued

A more concise way to express the idea, focusing on the continuation of progress.

although there was a hitch

Replaces "setback" with "hitch" and uses "although" to introduce the clause.

challenges notwithstanding

Similar in structure to "setback notwithstanding", but uses the more general term "challenges".

FAQs

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

Use "despite the setback" to show that something continued or happened even though there was a problem or difficulty. For example, "Despite the setback, the project was completed on time".

What are some alternatives to "despite the setback"?

You can use alternatives like "in spite of the setback", "even with the difficulty", or "regardless of the problem depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "despite of the setback"?

No, the correct phrase is "despite the setback". The preposition "despite" does not require the addition of "of".

What's the difference between "despite the setback" and "although there was a setback"?

Both phrases indicate that something happened even though there was a problem. "Despite the setback" is more concise and emphasizes the continuation of something, while "although there was a setback" introduces a contrasting idea.