in spite

USAGE SUMMARY

"in spite" is a perfectly acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that an action or event occurs despite something else. For example: "In spite of the rain, she decided to go outside for her daily jog."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's more like "in spite of".

Huffington Post

In spite of everything.

The New Yorker

In spite of his policies.

The New York Times

In spite of Shicklgruber, friends,.

The New Yorker

It's in spite of their opposition.

The New York Times

I wondered, in spite of myself.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It is in spite of the government".

The New York Times

In spite of himself, Keller smiled.

The New Yorker

Lust languishes, in spite of Viagra.

The Economist

Yes, you are — in spite of everything.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I'm an in-spite-of-Hollywood director".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in spite of", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates the contrast between the expected outcome and the actual result. For example: "In spite of the heavy traffic, we arrived on time."

Common error

Avoid using "inspite of" (one word) as it is a misspelling. The correct form is always "in spite of" (three words).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in spite" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing an element of contrast or concession. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates that something occurs or is true even though there is a reason why it might not be. This usage is validated by numerous examples from the Ludwig database.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in spite" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a sense of contrast, indicating that something occurs despite an obstacle. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. To ensure proper use, avoid the one-word misspelling "inspite" and clearly indicate the contrast in your sentence. Related phrases include "despite" and "notwithstanding". As evidenced by the numerous examples, the phrase is very common in news and media. Remember, "in spite" helps to highlight unexpected outcomes, resilience, or determination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite

This is a direct synonym, often interchangeable with "in spite of" but slightly more concise.

despite the fact that

A longer, more explicit version of "despite", often used to introduce a clause.

regardless of

This phrase emphasizes that something happens without being affected by something else.

even though

Similar to "despite the fact that", this introduces a contrasting clause.

notwithstanding

A more formal synonym, indicating that something is true even though something else might have prevented it.

although

A conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause presenting a contrast.

even with

Highlights the presence of something that might be a hindrance, yet the action still occurs.

however

A transitional adverb that indicates a contrast or contradiction.

yet

A conjunction expressing contrast; similar to 'but'.

with all that

Highlights the adverse conditions that are present, yet something still happens.

FAQs

How can I use "in spite" in a sentence?

Use "in spite" to show something happened even though something else might have stopped it. For example, "In spite of the rain, they went hiking".

What's a simple substitute for "in spite of"?

A simple substitute is "despite", which has a similar meaning but is more concise.

Is it ever correct to write "inspite of" as one word?

No, "inspite of" is always incorrect. The correct form is always the three-word phrase, "in spite of".

How does "in spite of" differ from "because of"?

"In spite of" indicates contrast, while "because of" indicates cause. "In spite of the difficulty, they succeeded" means they succeeded despite the difficulty. "Because of the difficulty, they failed" means the difficulty caused their failure.