notwithstanding the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "notwithstanding the problem" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is true or valid despite the existence of a problem or issue. Example: "Notwithstanding the problem, we were able to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Such tragedies notwithstanding, the problem has diminished substantially in recent years.

The Economist

Notwithstanding the problem for broadband-only subscribers, the bigger question for most of Tiscali's existing customers is what will happen to tariffs on the landline-plus-broadband and calls packages, which have been popular because they were so cheap.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Notwithstanding the problems of definition and the vague statistics, the consensus among social scientists is that the incidence of infidelity has been rising in recent decades.

The New Yorker

Notwithstanding the problems, the U.S. Robotics acquisition proved to be a good one because its operations included the Palm hand-held organizer.

The New York Times

Notwithstanding the problems in the mortgage area, the new management team that came in a couple of years ago appears to be making progress in rebuilding the firm.

Forbes

Notwithstanding the problems associated with the SSU rRNA heterogeneity in identification of different isolates of the same AMF species, strength of this molecular marker for community profiling stands proved beyond doubt (Stéphani and Bérubé 2006).

Ecological Processes

Notwithstanding the problems and challenges of the government approval process, which I highlighted in my previous post, it is important to note the merits of the process, as well, because there are some distinct advantages of the IPCC being an intergovernmental organization and having some aspect of the Assessment Reports requiring government approval (namely, the SPM).

Huffington Post

Notwithstanding the problems in this arena for pharmaceuticals, there is at least a well known avenue for reporting and feedback loops to practitioners and, to some extent, consumers.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Notwithstanding that the problem has been often approached either neglecting to consider the cost of analysis or assuming that output data has a negligible size; this is not likely to happen in this and next generations biological simulations.

BioMed Research International

Notwithstanding the health problems, Yould entered and won the Miss Anchorage pageant in 1996 and also took a summer internship, as part of her Truman scholarship, at the Pentagon.

The New Yorker

Notwithstanding the reported problems of moonlighting in the health sector, there are few studies from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (7, 8, 22– 22).

Global Health Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "notwithstanding the problem" to acknowledge an issue without letting it overshadow the main point. It adds a layer of nuance to your writing.

Common error

While "notwithstanding the problem" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound stilted. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "despite the issue" or "in spite of the problem" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "notwithstanding the problem" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a clause. As indicated by Ludwig, it introduces a contrast or exception, acknowledging a problem while affirming another statement. It essentially means "despite the problem".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

55%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "notwithstanding the problem" is a grammatically sound phrase used to acknowledge a difficulty before introducing a contrasting idea. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While effective, it leans towards a formal register, making alternatives like "despite the issue" or "in spite of the problem" suitable for more informal contexts. The phrase is more common in news, science and encyclopedic sources. Remember to consider your audience and desired tone when choosing between "notwithstanding the problem" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the problem notwithstanding

Inverts the original phrase for a slightly more formal tone.

despite the issue

Replaces "notwithstanding" with "despite", simplifying the phrase while retaining the core meaning.

in spite of the problem

Similar to "despite", "in spite of" offers a direct alternative to "notwithstanding".

regardless of the problem

Emphasizes that the problem does not affect the outcome.

even with the problem

Highlights the coexistence of the problem and the affirmed statement.

despite this difficulty

Substitutes "problem" with "difficulty", offering a softer tone.

even given the problem

Implies acceptance of the problem while maintaining the truth of the statement.

with the problem still present

Directly acknowledges the continuing presence of the problem.

although there is a problem

Uses a conjunction to connect the problem with the main clause.

yet the problem persists

Contrasts the persistence of the problem with the overall situation.

FAQs

What does "notwithstanding the problem" mean?

It means "despite the problem". It indicates that something is true or valid even though a problem exists.

How can I use "notwithstanding the problem" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a contrasting idea after acknowledging an issue. For example: "Notwithstanding the problem, we were able to achieve our goals."

What are some alternatives to "notwithstanding the problem"?

Alternatives include "despite the problem", "in spite of the problem", or "regardless of the problem".

Is it always appropriate to use "notwithstanding the problem"?

While grammatically correct, "notwithstanding" can sound formal. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. In some contexts, simpler alternatives like "despite the problem" may be more suitable.