in spite of his age

USAGE SUMMARY

"in spite of his age" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that someone is able to do something, despite their age. For example, "In spite of his age, my grandfather still likes to go hiking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Other friends find Grass surprisingly prickly about criticism in spite of his age and renown.

The Guardian - Books

But Clemens still throws very hard, in spite of his age, for a variety of reasons.

The New York Times - Sports

In spite of his age and ill health, he played politics with much of his old vigour, and often with no more sense of responsibility than before.

The Guardian

Ritzer's accused killer, Philip Chism, a 14-year-old Danvers High student, is being held for murder, and in spite of his age, will be tried as an adult in an adult court.

Harvard University

What a special guitarist: 23, and in spite of his age, in spite of the macho ideal of guitar-shredders that exists even within the relatively new-male context of jam-band music, he does not waste a note.

The New York Times - Arts

In spite of his age and apparently failing health, there are still those who believe Mr Bouteflika could stand for a fourth term in office in elections scheduled for next year.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

For two years, in spite of his advanced age, he continued as a journalist and an ardent campaign speaker in favour of Socialism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It hooked me up real quick and soon I was doing whatever it took to get it". In spite of his young age, he has already spent two years in a youth corrections facility for robbery.

BBC

What this young baseball season could use — other than continued good news from Metville — is not a forced photo op with A-Rod and the Say Hey Kid but several more months of Rodriguez continuing to hit, and hit well, in spite of his advancing age, and his bum hip, and booing fans.

The New Yorker

Maimon also developed an interest in Kabbalistic texts, which in spite of his relatively young age, he attempted to study and interpret according to the bodies of knowledge he had already mastered (i.e., Maimonidean philosophy).

SEP

Kershaw, the son of a headmaster, grew up in Rochdale, where the disappointment set in early, in spite of his genius (at the age of 51, he is still apt to boast about his A-level results, and the fact that, aged two, he could name all the allied generals in his father's history of the great war).

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in spite of his age" to highlight surprising achievements or abilities, suggesting that age might typically be a limiting factor, but it isn't in the specific case. For example, "In spite of his age, he runs marathons regularly."

Common error

Avoid using "in spite of his age" when age is not a relevant or expected obstacle. For instance, saying "In spite of his age, he eats breakfast" is incorrect because age doesn't generally prevent someone from eating breakfast.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in spite of his age" functions as an adverbial phrase, introducing a contrasting element or concession to a statement. It modifies the main clause by indicating that something is true or possible despite the potential limitations implied by someone's age, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in spite of his age" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that serves to highlight a contrast, emphasizing that someone's age doesn't hinder their abilities or achievements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, mostly in news, scientific and academic writing. While alternatives like "despite his age" offer conciseness, "in spite of his age" provides a slightly stronger emphasis. Remember to use this phrase when age could reasonably be perceived as a limiting factor, and avoid using it in irrelevant contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite his age

This alternative is more concise and directly replaces "in spite of" with "despite".

regardless of his age

This alternative emphasizes that his age is not a relevant factor.

notwithstanding his age

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the lack of impact of his age.

age notwithstanding

This alternative is a more concise and slightly more formal way to express the same idea.

his age notwithstanding

Slight change in sentence structure compared to the query.

even with his age

This alternative highlights that his age could be a factor, but it isn't.

despite being elderly

This alternative uses a different adjective to describe age.

although he is old

Similar to "though he is old", but slightly more formal.

though he is old

A simpler, more direct way of conveying the same contrast.

even given his years

This rephrasing is more evocative, emphasizing experience.

FAQs

How can I use "in spite of his age" in a sentence?

Use "in spite of his age" to show a contrast or unexpected ability. For example, "In spite of his age, he still works full-time."

What are some alternatives to "in spite of his age"?

Alternatives include "despite his age", "notwithstanding his age", or "even with his age", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "in spite of his age" or "despite his age"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. "Despite his age" is generally considered more concise, while "in spite of his age" can add a slightly stronger emphasis on the contrast.

What does "in spite of his age" imply?

It implies that his age might be seen as a limitation, but he is succeeding or performing well anyway. It highlights a potential obstacle that is being overcome.