notwithstanding whether

USAGE SUMMARY

'notwithstanding whether' is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
'Notwithstanding' is a preposition that means "in spite of" and is typically followed by a noun. For example, you could say "Notwithstanding the weather forecast, they decided to go camping."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

These study results notwithstanding, whether you've yet to get in gear on your New Year's exercise resolutions or you're already an inveterate exerciser, it's important to know that the benefits of regular physical activity go beyond burning calories.

Harvard University

Notwithstanding whether a low or no emission vehicle component is assessed at a facility selected under subparagraph (A), each new bus model shall comply with the requirements under section 5318.

Cornell University

Notwithstanding whether Ball did indeed overplay his hand or would indeed have been right for the job, you can see how the board may have felt they had been manipulated and cornered into appointing him.

The Guardian

Notwithstanding whether the future will resemble the modelled trends, useful information can be extracted from a comparison of the modelled scenarios of land-use developments.

European Transport Research Review

"Notwithstanding whether that comes to fruition however, Reading Bridge will continue to be a major strategic route through the town, and indeed the wider region, for many years to come.

BBC

Notwithstanding whether or not this explanation justified the best interests argument, it emphasizes the vulnerability of the mentally incompetent to the decisions that can be made whilst they are alive.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Mr. Himmel notwithstanding, naysayers question whether large numbers of restaurant customers, Whole Foods shoppers, gymgoers or jazz patrons will have much inclination to do retail shopping - and vice-versa.

The New York Times

JPMorgan Is Expected to Lead an I.P.O. for Chrysler | CNBCBC's Kate Kelly reports: "Notwithstanding doubts about whether the Chrysler Group would go forward with a promised public float, the company is late in the stages of preparing its offering documents, said a person familiar with the offer, and JPMorgan Chase is expected to underwrite the I.P.O".

The New York Times

Notwithstanding speculation about whether there are sufficient teeth in the concept of 'say on pay', Keyes held firm to the belief that the move is geared towards employees who are in it for the long haul.

Huffington Post

Notwithstanding, we addressed whether our observations in Tables 1 and 2 depend on this assumption.

BMC Systems Biology

Notwithstanding the fiction employed--whether the intent be "imputed," "presumed," "implied," "constructive," or even "transferred --various transferred --varioustransferred --various

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "notwithstanding whether" in formal writing due to its awkwardness. Instead, opt for clearer and more accepted alternatives such as "regardless of whether" or "even if".

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "notwithstanding" followed by a clause introduced by "whether". "Notwithstanding" is a preposition that should be followed by a noun or noun phrase, not a full clause. Using "regardless of whether" corrects this.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "notwithstanding whether" functions as a conjunction introducing a clause that presents a condition. However, it's considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, "Notwithstanding" is a preposition which should be followed by a noun phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "notwithstanding whether" appears in various contexts, particularly in science, news, and academic writing, it's generally considered grammatically awkward and incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that "notwithstanding" should be followed by a noun phrase, not a clause introduced by "whether". Therefore, it's best to opt for clearer and more widely accepted alternatives like "regardless of whether", "even if", or "despite the fact that" to ensure your writing is both grammatically sound and easily understood. Remember to adjust your choice based on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of whether

This alternative replaces "notwithstanding" with "regardless of", offering a more common and grammatically sound construction.

irrespective of whether

Similar to "regardless of whether", this option uses "irrespective of" to convey a similar meaning of disinterest towards a condition.

despite whether

This option substitutes "notwithstanding" with "despite", which has a similar meaning but may sound less formal. It needs to be followed by a noun phrase.

even if

This simplifies the phrase to a conditional statement, focusing on the condition being true.

although

A more concise alternative, "although" introduces a contrasting idea without directly addressing a binary condition.

in spite of whether

This option uses "in spite of whether" offering a more common and grammatically sound construction.

without regard to whether

This emphasizes the lack of consideration for a specific condition, making it suitable when the condition is secondary to the main point.

no matter whether

This choice reinforces the idea that the outcome remains the same, irrespective of the condition.

regardless

This very short alternative simplifies the original phrase. It works when the "whether" part is already implied.

despite the fact that

This is a more verbose alternative that can be useful in formal writing.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "notwithstanding whether"?

The phrase "notwithstanding whether" is grammatically awkward. "Notwithstanding" is a preposition that requires a noun phrase, not a clause introduced by "whether". Alternatives like "regardless of whether" are grammatically correct.

What can I use instead of "notwithstanding whether"?

You can use phrases like "regardless of whether", "irrespective of whether", or "even if", depending on the intended meaning and context.

Is "notwithstanding whether" considered formal or informal?

While "notwithstanding" itself is formal, the phrase "notwithstanding whether" is considered awkward and is best avoided in both formal and informal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "regardless of whether".

How does "notwithstanding whether" differ from "regardless of whether"?

"Notwithstanding whether" is a less common and somewhat grammatically dubious construction, whereas "regardless of whether" is a standard and widely accepted way to express that something is true, irrespective of another condition. The latter is generally preferred.