spite that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spite that" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "despite that," which is used to indicate that something happens regardless of a particular circumstance. Example: "Despite that, I decided to go ahead with my plans."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He arrests a drug dealer and breaks his thumb out of spite: "That must really hurt, he thought, giving in to a feel of sadistic pleasure".

The New Yorker

The vitriol and spite that followed the Italian debacle were novel and wounding.

BBC

Other times, it's a gesture -- perhaps out of kindness, perhaps out of spite -- that reveals more about the interview subject than any verbal answer could ever provide.

HuffPost

But, lucky me, you did delete the positive reference you left for me on my profile, one final act of spite that suggests you were more technically proficient that you let on.

Vice

McCullum's response to the send-offs and spite that soured the one-sided climax?

The Guardian - Sport

In spite that a lot of information about successful UHPC applications have been presented and published recently.

Procedia Engineering

Two years after the Persian Gulf war, Mr. Hussein ordered an assassination attempt on the elder Bush, an act of spite that the 43rd president would never forget.

The New York Times

Michael should be thankful for the hot plate of bubbling spite that Janine will serve him – it's one of the few distractions in the Walford continuum.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"To Carlos Salinas de Gortari," he signed it, "who does not like my work, out of spite that I don't like yours".

The New York Times

Oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right" – but never has it seemed quite so graphically chromosomal.

The Guardian - Books

– that we should starve the labouring classes of free-born Englishmen at home, through spite that we cannot emancipate the negro slaves of other countries?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "spite that" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "despite the fact that" or "even though" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "spite that" when they intend to convey the meaning of "in spite of that". Remember, "in spite of" is a preposition that requires an "of". Using "spite that" alone is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spite that" functions as a subordinating conjunction, attempting to introduce a clause that contrasts with the main clause. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase is not grammatically correct, and standard English offers better alternatives to express concession or contrast.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

12%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "spite that" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, more appropriate alternatives like "despite that", "in spite of that", or "even though" should be used to convey the intended meaning of concession or contrast. Its presence across different contexts doesn't validate its usage; it's crucial to opt for grammatically sound phrases to maintain clarity and credibility in writing. Top sources like The New York Times and The Guardian occasionally feature this phrase, but it remains non-standard.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite the fact that

Replaces "spite that" with a grammatically sound phrase indicating concession.

in spite of the fact that

Functions similarly to "despite the fact that", providing a correct alternative.

even though

Offers a more concise and grammatically correct way to express concession.

although

A synonym for "even though", providing a simpler alternative.

notwithstanding that

A more formal replacement, indicating something holds true regardless of another fact.

regardless of the fact that

Emphasizes that something occurs without being affected by something else.

irrespective of the fact that

Similar to "regardless of", stressing the lack of influence from another factor.

even if

Presents a hypothetical situation that does not change the outcome.

however

A simple conjunction to introduce a contrasting point.

that being said

Introduces a contrasting or qualifying statement.

FAQs

What are some correct alternatives to "spite that"?

Instead of "spite that", use phrases like "despite the fact that", "in spite of the fact that", or "even though" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Is "spite that" grammatically correct?

No, "spite that" is not grammatically correct. It's often a misinterpretation or shortened version of "in spite of that" or "despite the fact that".

When should I use "despite that" instead of "spite that"?

Always use "despite that" or "in spite of that" instead of "spite that". The latter is not a recognized or grammatically sound phrase.

What's the difference between "spite that" and "in spite of that"?

"Spite that" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. "In spite of that" is a correct phrase used to indicate that something occurs regardless of a particular circumstance.