Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'despite' or 'in spite of' to show a surprising contrast, but never put 'of' after 'despite'.
- Rule 1: Use 'Despite' + Noun/Gerund. Example: 'Despite the rain, we went out.'
- Rule 2: Use 'In spite of' + Noun/Gerund. Example: 'In spite of the rain, we went out.'
- Rule 3: Never say 'Despite of'. It is always just 'Despite' alone.
Overview
despite and in spite of. At their core, these two expressions are perfect synonyms; they carry the exact same meaning and can be used interchangeably in any grammatical context.- The team won the match despite having two injured players.
- The team won the match in spite of having two injured players.
despite is a single word, while in spite of is a three-word phrase. This distinction, along with their shared classification as prepositions, is the key to mastering their usage.despite is often preferred in formal writing for its conciseness.How This Grammar Works
despite and in spite of are prepositions. In English grammar, a preposition’s job is to show a relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence. This means that, by definition, a preposition must be followed by a noun or a noun-equivalent.he went, she is).despite and in spite of.- 1A Noun or Noun Phrase: This is the most straightforward usage. The noun phrase represents the obstacle or contrasting element.
- We enjoyed the festival despite the terrible weather.
- He remained humble in spite of his immense success.
- 1A Gerund (-ing Verb Form): A gerund is a verb that ends in
-ingbut functions as a noun. This makes it a perfectly valid object for a preposition. This is an extremely common and useful pattern.
- Despite feeling exhausted, she continued to work.
- He passed the driving test in spite of making several small errors.
- 1A Pronoun: Simple pronouns like
this,that,all, orwhatcan also serve as the object.
- She knew she had to leave. Despite this, she found it hard to say goodbye.
- The project was a failure, and he had to accept his responsibility in spite of it all.
*despite he was ill. To solve this, you must use the bridging phrase the fact that.fact is a noun, which satisfies the preposition's need for a noun object. The subsequent that-clause simply explains what the fact is.- Correct: They went ahead with the merger despite the fact that the board advised against it.
- Incorrect: They went ahead with the merger despite the board advised against it.
despite/in spite of + the fact that + clause, is your grammatically sound tool for connecting these prepositions to a full subject-verb statement. It is formal and can feel slightly wordy, but it is always correct.
Formation Pattern
despite or in spite of can appear either at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When it comes at the beginning, it must be followed by a comma.
the fact that).
Despite / In spite of + Noun Phrase / Gerund, Main Clause. | In spite of the delay, we arrived before the movie started. |
Despite / In spite of + Noun Phrase / Gerund, Main Clause. | Despite being the underdog, the team played with incredible spirit. |
despite / in spite of + Noun Phrase / Gerund. | The company is profitable despite a challenging economic climate. |
despite / in spite of + Noun Phrase / Gerund. | I love this city in spite of its noisy traffic. |
the fact that to act as the noun object for the preposition.
Despite / In spite of + the fact that + S + V, Main Clause. | Despite the fact that he had never coded before, he built a functional website. |
Despite / In spite of + the fact that + S + V, Main Clause. | In spite of the fact that the instructions were unclear, she assembled the furniture perfectly. |
despite / in spite of + the fact that + S + V. | We decided to trust him despite the fact that he had lied to us in the past. |
despite / in spite of + the fact that + S + V. | The policy was implemented in spite of the fact that a majority of members opposed it. |
despite and in spite of.
When To Use It
despite or in spite of is a matter of register, emphasis, and style. While they are often interchangeable with words like but or although, they serve specific rhetorical purposes.- 1To Signal a Clear Concession in Formal Contexts: This is their primary role. In academic, business, or any formal writing, using these prepositions signals a sophisticated understanding of sentence structure. They are more formal than a simple
butand are used to acknowledge an obstacle before highlighting the more important, contrasting outcome.
- *Informal:* I wanted to leave,
butI stayed until the end. - *Formal:* Despite my desire to leave, I stayed until the end of the meeting.
- 1To Add Emphasis to an Obstacle: Placing the
despiteorin spite ofphrase at the beginning of the sentence (a technique called fronting) draws immediate attention to the challenge or difficulty that was overcome. This creates a more dramatic effect than placing it at the end.
- *Neutral:* She gave a brilliant presentation in spite of her fear of public speaking.
- *Emphatic:* In spite of her intense fear of public speaking, she gave a brilliant presentation.
- 1To Vary Sentence Structure: In longer texts, relying solely on conjunctions like
butandalthoughcan become repetitive. Integrating phrases withdespiteandin spite ofadds syntactic variety, making your writing more engaging and dynamic. They allow you to combine ideas in ways that a simple conjunction cannot, especially by using gerunds.
- *Repetitive:* The team lost. They had trained hard all season.
- *Improved:* The team lost despite training hard all season.
- 1Choosing Between
DespiteandIn Spite Of: The choice is stylistic. Corpus linguistics data shows thatdespiteis roughly three to four times more common thanin spite ofin modern written English, particularly in formal and academic contexts. Its single-word form makes it more concise and direct.In spite ofis still perfectly correct and widely used, especially in spoken English, where its slightly more rhythmic, three-word structure can feel natural. For a formal university essay or a business report,despiteis often the safer, more conventional choice.
Common Mistakes
of — *Despite ofdespite and in spite of and incorrectly produce *despite of. You must burn this rule into your memory: despite is a lone operator and is never followed by of.- Wrong:
*Despite ofthe rain, we went outside. - Right: Despite the rain, we went outside.
- Right: In spite of the rain, we went outside.
- Wrong:
*In spite ofshe felt tired, she finished the race. - Right (Gerund): In spite of feeling tired, she finished the race.
- Right (Noun): In spite of her tiredness, she finished the race.
- Right (Clause): In spite of the fact that she felt tired, she finished the race.
although/though)Although, though, and even though are subordinating conjunctions, not prepositions. Their grammatical function is to connect two clauses. This means they *must* be followed by a subject and a verb. This makes them a great, often more concise, alternative to the the fact that structure.despite, in spite of) | Conjunctions (although, though) |despite the bad weather... | although the weather was bad... |*despite the weather was bad... | *although the bad weather... |inspite as One WordIn spite of is always three separate words. There is no such word as inspite in English.- Wrong:
*Inspite ofhis efforts, he failed. - Right: In spite of his efforts, he failed.
Real Conversations
Observing how these phrases are used in authentic, everyday contexts is key to internalizing them. They appear in all registers, from formal reports to casual texts.
- In a Work Email:
> Subject: Project Phoenix Update
> Hi Team,
> Despite some initial setbacks with the supplier, we are now back on schedule to meet the Q3 deadline. Thanks for your hard work.
- In a University Lecture:
>
So, the research was ultimately successful, in spite of a significant lack of institutional funding. This really speaks to the dedication of the researchers involved.
- On a Social Media Post (Instagram Caption):
> (Photo of a beautiful, but crowded, tourist spot)
>
Finally made it! Despite the crowds, the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. #travel #worthit
- In a Text Message Exchange:
> A: Are you still coming to dinner? I know you have that early flight.
> B: Yeah, absolutely. In spite of the early start tomorrow, I don't want to miss it.
- In a News Headline:
> EUROPEAN MARKETS RALLY DESPITE ONGOING POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
- In a Movie Subtitle:
> Character 1:
How can you trust her?
> Character 2: "In spite of everything she's done, she's still my sister."
Quick FAQ
despite and in spite of?No. They are 100% synonymous. The choice between them is entirely stylistic and related to register or rhythm. You can swap one for the other in any sentence without changing the meaning.
despite is more common. How much more?In large databases of written English (corpora), despite appears about 3 to 4 times more often than in spite of. This preference is strongest in formal writing like academic articles and journalism. In spoken English, in spite of is more common than in writing, but despite still holds a slight edge.
Despite the fact that is very long. Are there shorter alternatives when I need to use a clause?Yes, absolutely. This is where conjunctions are your best friend. Although or the slightly more emphatic even though are excellent, more concise alternatives.
- *Wordy:* She accepted the job despite the fact that the salary was low.
- *Better:* She accepted the job although the salary was low.
- *Clause:* Although the company's profits fell...
- *Noun Phrase:* Despite the fall in the company's profits...
despite? For example, He was sick, but he came to work despite.No. As prepositions, despite and in spite of must have an object (a noun, pronoun, or gerund). The sentence *...he came to work despite is incomplete. However, in conversation, you can end with a pronoun that refers to the obstacle. For example:
Was the traffic bad?
Yes, but we got here on time in spite of it.Here,
it is the necessary object.
notwithstanding? Is it related?Yes. Notwithstanding is a very formal, almost legalistic, synonym for despite or in spite of. It functions in the same way as a preposition. You will encounter it in legal documents, official proceedings, and very formal academic writing, but it is extremely rare in everyday conversation.
- Example: Notwithstanding the committee's objections, the project was approved.
Structure of Concessive Prepositions
| Preposition | Followed By | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Despite
|
Noun Phrase
|
Despite the rain
|
|
In spite of
|
Noun Phrase
|
In spite of the rain
|
|
Despite
|
Gerund (-ing)
|
Despite being tired
|
|
In spite of
|
Gerund (-ing)
|
In spite of being tired
|
|
Despite
|
The fact that + Clause
|
Despite the fact that it rained
|
|
In spite of
|
The fact that + Clause
|
In spite of the fact that it rained
|
|
Despite
|
Pronoun
|
Despite that
|
|
In spite of
|
Pronoun
|
In spite of this
|
Meanings
These words are used to express a contrast between two things, usually when the second thing is surprising or unexpected given the first thing.
Basic Contrast
Used to show that something happened even though something else might have prevented it.
“In spite of the cold, he didn't wear a coat.”
“Despite her injury, she won the race.”
With 'The Fact That'
Used before a full clause (subject + verb) by adding the phrase 'the fact that'.
“Despite the fact that it was midnight, he was still working.”
“In spite of the fact that she is rich, she lives very simply.”
Pronoun Usage
Used directly before pronouns like 'this', 'that', or 'what'.
“In spite of that, I still love him.”
“Despite what you think, I am actually trying to help.”
Reference Table
| 特点 | Despite | In Spite Of | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
含义
|
表示对比
|
表示对比
|
它们意思相同。
|
|
后接名词
|
可以
|
可以
|
We played `despite the rain`.
|
|
后接动名词
|
可以
|
可以
|
He succeeded `in spite of working` against him.
|
|
后接从句 (主语+谓语)
|
不可以 (需要 `the fact that`)
|
不可以 (需要 `the fact that`)
|
She left `despite the fact that she loved him`.
|
|
常见错误
|
使用 `despite of`
|
写成一个词 (`inspiteof`)
|
正确形式是 `despite` 和 `in spite of`。
|
|
正式程度
|
略微更正式
|
略微不那么正式
|
两者都比 `but` 更正式。
|
|
单词数量
|
一个词
|
三个词
|
根据语感和风格选择。
|
正式程度
Despite the inclement weather, we proceeded with our walk. (Daily activity)
Despite the rain, we went for a walk. (Daily activity)
We went for a walk even though it was pouring. (Daily activity)
We went out anyway, even with the rain and all. (Daily activity)
如何表达对比
与名词连用
- Despite the rain... Despite the rain...
- In spite of the noise... In spite of the noise...
与动名词 (-ing) 连用
- Despite feeling sick... Despite feeling sick...
- In spite of losing... In spite of losing...
与从句 (主语+谓语) 连用
- Despite the fact that he left... Despite the fact that he left...
- In spite of the fact that it's late... In spite of the fact that it's late...
Despite vs. In Spite Of
我应该用哪一个？
你后面跟的是名词还是动名词 (-ing)？
你后面跟的是一个完整的从句（主语 + 谓语）吗？
对还是错？
正确 ✅
- • Despite the cold
- • In spite of the cold
- • In spite of being cold
- • Despite the fact that it was cold
错误 ❌
- • Despite of the cold
- • Inspite of the cold
- • Despite it was cold
- • Although of the cold
按水平分级的例句
Despite the rain, I am happy.
A pesar de la lluvia, soy feliz.
In spite of the cold, we played outside.
A pesar del frío, jugamos afuera.
He is fast despite his age.
Él es rápido a pesar de su edad.
In spite of the noise, she is sleeping.
A pesar del ruido, ella está durmiendo.
Despite having no money, he bought a gift.
A pesar de no tener dinero, compró un regalo.
In spite of being sick, she went to school.
A pesar de estar enferma, fue a la escuela.
They arrived late despite leaving early.
Llegaron tarde a pesar de salir temprano.
In spite of the bad food, we had fun.
A pesar de la mala comida, nos divertimos.
Despite the fact that it was late, he called me.
A pesar de que era tarde, me llamó.
In spite of all his hard work, he failed.
A pesar de todo su trabajo duro, falló.
She stayed calm despite the emergency.
Ella se mantuvo tranquila a pesar de la emergencia.
In spite of what the doctor said, he feels better.
A pesar de lo que dijo el doctor, se siente mejor.
Despite the government's efforts, inflation rose.
A pesar de los esfuerzos del gobierno, la inflación subió.
In spite of having been warned, they entered the building.
A pesar de haber sido advertidos, entraron al edificio.
The project was a success despite the limited budget.
El proyecto fue un éxito a pesar del presupuesto limitado.
In spite of the fact that she had never flown before, she wasn't nervous.
A pesar de que nunca había volado antes, no estaba nerviosa.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, he maintained his innocence.
A pesar de la evidencia abrumadora, mantuvo su inocencia.
In spite of the inherent risks, the explorers pushed forward.
A pesar de los riesgos inherentes, los exploradores avanzaron.
The company thrived despite there being a global recession.
La empresa prosperó a pesar de que había una recesión global.
In spite of her reservations, she agreed to the proposal.
A pesar de sus reservas, aceptó la propuesta.
Notwithstanding the objections raised, the motion was passed.
No obstante las objeciones planteadas, la moción fue aprobada.
Despite his being a relative newcomer, he was appointed CEO.
A pesar de ser un recién llegado, fue nombrado CEO.
In spite of the fact that the theory is widely accepted, some anomalies remain.
A pesar de que la teoría es ampliamente aceptada, quedan algunas anomalías.
He persevered, despite the odds being stacked against him.
Perseveró, a pesar de que las probabilidades estaban en su contra.
容易混淆
Learners use them with the wrong structures because they mean the same thing.
Both show contrast, but 'regardless of' means the condition is ignored, while 'despite' means the condition was a problem that was overcome.
Learners try to use both in the same sentence.
常见错误
Despite of the rain.
Despite the rain.
In spite the rain.
In spite of the rain.
Despite it was raining.
Despite the rain.
Although the rain.
Despite the rain.
Despite to be tired.
Despite being tired.
In spite of he was sick.
In spite of being sick.
Despite of his age.
Despite his age.
Despite the fact it was raining.
Despite the fact that it was raining.
In spite of not have money.
In spite of not having money.
Despite of what I said.
Despite what I said.
Despite that it was raining.
Despite the fact that it was raining.
句型
Despite ___, I still ___.
In spite of ___ing, she ___.
He ___ despite the fact that ___.
Despite ___, ___ notwithstanding.
Real World Usage
I completed the project on time despite a very limited budget.
In spite of the storm, the airport remains open.
Had a blast despite the rain! #vacation
Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights.
We are processing your order despite the current holiday delays.
They won the game despite losing their best player in the first half.
绝不能说 'Despite of'
In spite of 有三个词，Despite 只有一个词。把这个刻在脑子里：despite 后面绝不能跟 of。动作要用动名词
She went running despite feeling tired 就比 despite her feeling of tiredness听起来更流畅。
用 'Although' 替换
despite the fact that太长或太笨拙，直接用
although 替换就好啦！although 是连词，后面直接跟一个完整的句子（主语 + 谓语），是个完美的替代品。正式程度和语气
despite 或 in spite of 能让你的论点听起来更平衡、更严谨，比单纯用 but 更高级。Despite 因为更简洁，通常是首选。Smart Tips
Replace one of your 'but' sentences with a 'Despite' sentence at the start to improve your grade.
Count the words. 'In spite of' has 3 words. 'Despite' has 1. They never share.
Always use the 'bridge' phrase: 'the fact that'.
Use 'In spite of' and link the words: 'inspit-ov'.
发音
Despite Stress
The stress is on the second syllable: de-SPITE.
In Spite Of Link
In natural speech, 'spite' and 'of' link together. It sounds like 'spit-ov'.
Comma Pause
Despite the rain [pause], we went out.
When 'despite' starts a sentence, there is a slight rising intonation before the comma pause.
记住它
记忆技巧
Despite is 'D-light' (delight) because it's only one word. In spite of is a 'Trio' (three words).
视觉联想
Imagine a runner crossing a finish line while it's pouring rain. The rain is the 'Noun' following 'Despite'. The runner is the 'Success' that happened anyway.
Rhyme
Despite the rain, I feel no pain. In spite of the cold, I'm feeling bold.
Story
A man named Dan wanted to hike. Despite the storm, he went. In spite of the wind, he climbed. He reached the top despite the fact that he was exhausted.
Word Web
挑战
Write three sentences about your day using 'despite' + a noun, 'in spite of' + a gerund, and 'despite the fact that'.
文化笔记
British speakers use both 'despite' and 'in spite of' frequently, but 'in spite of' can sometimes sound slightly more traditional in spoken dialects.
American English leans heavily on 'despite' in news and professional contexts, while 'even though' is much more common in casual speech than 'in spite of'.
In global academic English, 'despite' is preferred for its brevity. Using 'in spite of' in a research paper is correct but might be edited to 'despite' to save space.
'Despite' comes from the Old French 'despit', meaning 'contempt' or 'scorn'. It originally meant 'in contempt of'.
对话开场白
What is something you did recently despite being very tired?
Have you ever traveled somewhere in spite of bad weather?
Despite the fact that technology is everywhere, what is one 'old-fashioned' thing you still love?
What is a goal you achieved despite the odds being against you?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
___ all our hard work, we didn't win the contract.
Despite 是正确的单词介词。记住，despite 后面绝不跟 of。Choose the correct sentence:
In spite of 后面必须跟名词（his sickness）或动名词（being sick）。它不能直接跟从句（he was sick）。Find and fix the mistake:
Despite of the loud music, the baby slept soundly.
despite of 是错误的。Despite 是单独使用的，不带 of。In spite of 也是一个正确的替代选项。Score: /3
练习题
8 exercises___ the heavy rain, the football match continued.
Find and fix the mistake:
Despite of his injury, he finished the marathon.
Which sentence is correct?
Although she was tired, she kept working.
1. Despite the fact that... / 2. In spite of... / 3. Although...
In spite of ___ (not have) much money, they are very happy.
___ the bad weather, we had a great time.
Find and fix the mistake:
What is the correct version?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesWe had a great time ___ the awful weather.
Choose the correct sentence:
He refused to give up, in spite he was losing badly.
Translate into English: 'Even though she was afraid, she walked onto the stage.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence halves:
___ the fact that the instructions were in Japanese, I managed to build the shelf.
Choose the incorrect sentence:
Inspite of the risk, he invested all his money.
Put these words in order:
She failed the exam ___ she had a private tutor.
Score: /11
常见问题 (8)
Yes, `despite` is generally considered slightly more formal and is more common in academic and professional writing. However, both are perfectly acceptable in all situations.
Absolutely! Just remember to put a comma after the noun phrase. For example: `Despite the rain, we went out.`
It's simply a rule of the language. `Despite` is a single-word preposition, while `in spite of` is a three-word phrasal preposition. Mixing them is a common error.
Only if you add `the fact that`. You cannot say `Despite it was raining`. You must say `Despite the fact that it was raining`.
The difference is grammar. `Although` is followed by a subject and a verb (`Although it was raining`). `Despite` is followed by a noun (`Despite the rain`).
Yes. For example: `We went for a walk despite the rain.` This is very common.
No. In this context, it must always be `in spite of`. The word `spite` alone is a noun meaning a desire to hurt or annoy someone.
Yes, usually with a gerund. `Despite not having a map, we found the house.`
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
A pesar de
Spanish uses the infinitive where English uses the gerund (-ing).
Malgré / En dépit de
French 'Malgré' is very common in speech, whereas 'Despite' is slightly more formal.
Trotz
German requires a specific grammatical case (Genitive) after the word.
～にもかかわらず (ni mo kakawarazu)
The word order is reversed; the contrast marker comes after the noun.
على الرغم من (ala al-raghm min)
It is almost always a multi-word phrase; there isn't a common one-word equivalent like 'Despite'.
尽管 (jǐnguǎn)
Chinese contrast markers often come in pairs (Although... but...).
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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