Micro-listening
Despite vs In Spite Of: Choosing the Right Form
Is there any difference in meaning between despite and in spite of?
Despite and in spite of mean that one circumstance did not stop another result from occurring. The phrase attaches directly to the obstacle, showing contrast against an unexpected outcome. Switching between the two does not alter the factual meaning of your sentence.
Key points
- Use despite or in spite of before a noun, pronoun, or -ing verb to introduce an obstacle that failed to stop a result.
- Keep despite as a single word without of, and use the fact that if a full subject and verb must follow.
- Place a noun phrase, a pronoun, or an -ing verb directly after despite or in spite of.
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
Examples
Despite the cold morning, we walked through the park.
Why it works: The cold morning is a noun phrase naming the obstacle.
3 more examples
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In spite of missing breakfast, David stayed energetic until lunch.
Missing breakfast uses an -ing verb to describe the obstacle.
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The shipment arrived on schedule despite several railway delays.
The connector introduces the difficulty at the end of the sentence.
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In spite of the fact that our team was small, we finished the project.
The phrase the fact that permits a complete clause to follow in spite of.
Read the full guide
Identify Which Clause Contains the Obstacle
When you describe two related facts where one could have stopped the other, you need to decide which part functions as the barrier. Despite and in spite of introduce the obstacle, never the final outcome. In everyday communication, placing the connector before the obstacle signals to your listener that the result happened anyway. If you attach the connector to the result instead, you reverse the logic of your message and confuse your listener.
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Despite the heavy snow, our flight departed on time.
Why it works: The heavy snow is the obstacle that failed to stop the departure.
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In spite of a tight deadline, the design team delivered clean work.
Why it works: The tight deadline is the difficulty, while the clean delivery is the actual outcome.
Your turn
In the sentence 'Despite our noisy neighbors, we rested comfortably,' which phrase names the obstacle?
Answer: our noisy neighbors
Show the answer
Answer: our noisy neighbors
The obstacle is the noisy neighbors, which follows despite directly.
Choose Between Despite and In Spite Of
Both expressions carry the exact same grammatical meaning, so choosing between them is a matter of rhythm and style rather than grammar rules. Despite consists of a single word, making it popular in concise workplace emails, news reports, and summary notes. In spite of uses three distinct words and often feels slightly more emphatic in spoken conversations. You can substitute one for the other in almost every sentence without altering your intended message.
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Despite his busy schedule, Daniel called his parents every Sunday.
Why it works: Despite creates a compact, direct sentence for written notes or emails.
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In spite of his busy schedule, Daniel called his parents every Sunday.
Why it works: In spite of adds rhythmic emphasis in spoken storytelling.
You can practise this again in Has vs Had: Choosing the Right Form and About vs Around: Choosing the Right Word.
Your turn
How does the core meaning change when you swap despite for in spite of in a sentence?
Answer: The meaning remains identical because both mark an obstacle.
Show the answer
Answer: The meaning remains identical because both mark an obstacle.
Both phrases perform the same grammatical job and convey identical contrast.
Follow the Marker with a Noun Phrase or Pronoun
The most direct structure after despite or in spite of is a simple noun phrase or pronoun. You do not need helper verbs or connecting words when a clear noun names the obstacle. Learners often overcomplicate their sentences by inserting extra words where a simple object already works perfectly. You can use singular nouns, plural nouns, abstract concepts, or objective pronouns like him, her, or them right after the phrase.
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We enjoyed our weekend camping trip in spite of the cold.
Why it works: The cold is a noun phrase that functions as the obstacle.
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Despite them, the office committee agreed on the new policy.
Why it works: The pronoun them refers to opposing individuals who did not stop the decision.
Your turn
Which item can correctly follow in spite of without adding extra helper words?
Answer: the continuous rain
Show the answer
Answer: the continuous rain
The continuous rain is a noun phrase, which fits directly after in spite of.
Attach an -ing Verb When Describing an Action
When the obstacle involves an ongoing action or personal condition, transform the verb into an -ing form known as a gerund. Never place a base verb or an infinitive with to directly after despite or in spite of. This -ing form behaves like a noun, allowing you to summarize an action smoothly. For clarity, make sure the implied subject of the -ing verb matches the main subject in the rest of your sentence.
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Despite working two jobs, Carlos completed his evening degree.
Why it works: Working is an -ing form that describes the demanding condition Carlos faced.
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In spite of feeling sick, Maya gave a persuasive presentation.
Why it works: Feeling sick describes Maya's personal physical condition during the event.
Your turn
Choose the correct verbal form: 'In spite of ___ early, Omar missed the connecting train.'
Answer: leaving
Show the answer
Answer: leaving
Verbs following in spite of must take the -ing gerund form.
Drop the Word Of When Using Despite
Write despite on its own, or use all three words in spite of. Do not combine the two forms as despite of. If you notice this combination in your draft, remove of or change despite to in spite of.
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Despite the dark clouds, we walked to the botanical garden.
Why it works: Despite stands alone before the noun phrase with no extra preposition.
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In spite of the dark clouds, we walked to the botanical garden.
Why it works: In spite of requires all three words to remain standard English.
Your turn
Which sentence demonstrates standard English without preposition blending errors?
Answer: Despite the delay, our package arrived safely.
Show the answer
Answer: Despite the delay, our package arrived safely.
Despite does not take of, and in spite requires of. Only the first option is correct.
Add The Fact That to Introduce a Full Clause
Sometimes you want to present an obstacle that contains its own separate subject and conjugated verb. Because despite and in spite of are prepositions, they cannot attach directly to a complete clause. You solve this structural limitation by inserting the noun phrase the fact that between the preposition and your clause. While this structure is fully grammatical and useful in formal reports, many writers prefer simpler noun phrases when available.
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In spite of the fact that the road was closed, we found a detour.
Why it works: The clause the road was closed requires the fact that after in spite of.
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Despite the fact that prices increased, customer demand stayed strong.
Why it works: Prices increased is a full clause with its own subject and verb.
Your turn
What words must bridge despite and the full clause 'the equipment was old'?
Answer: the fact that
Show the answer
Answer: the fact that
The connector the fact that turns a full clause into a valid prepositional complement.
Distinguish Despite from Although and Even Though
Although commonly introduces a clause with a subject and verb. Despite takes a noun phrase, pronoun, or -ing form. Although can also introduce reduced clauses. Choose the pattern that fits your words. Both connectors can occur in a longer sentence if they connect different ideas; do not combine them for the same contrast.
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Although the wind blew fiercely, our tent remained secure.
Why it works: Although connects directly to the clause the wind blew fiercely.
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Despite the fierce wind, our tent remained secure.
Why it works: Despite connects to the noun phrase the fierce wind.
Your turn
Which sentence correctly pairs its connector with the following words?
Answer: Although it was raining heavily, we played outside.
Show the answer
Answer: Although it was raining heavily, we played outside.
Although correctly introduces a full clause with subject it and verb was raining.
Recognize Connected Speech Reductions When Listening
When native speakers talk at natural speeds, in spite of flows together into a single rhythmic unit. The primary word stress falls on spite, while in and of reduce to short, unstressed syllables. The word of rarely sounds like ov with a full vowel; instead, speakers produce a reduced schwa sound /əv/ that links directly to the next word. Learning this rhythm prevents you from missing the connector when listening to fast workplace discussions or podcasts.
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In spite of all our preparations, the bus arrived twenty minutes late.
Why it works: Notice how of links smoothly to all, creating /əv‿ɔːl/ in natural speech.
-
He went swimming despite a chilly morning breeze.
Why it works: The second syllable of despite carries stress, linking smoothly into a.
Your turn
In the spoken phrase in spite of, which word receives the main stress?
Answer: spite
Show the answer
Answer: spite
Spite carries primary stress, while in and of are spoken with reduced weak vowels.
Questions about "Despite vs In Spite Of: Choosing the Right Form"
Is there any difference in meaning between despite and in spite of?
Both phrases express the exact same relationship: an obstacle did not prevent an unexpected outcome. Despite is slightly more common in formal or compact writing because it is a single word, while in spite of is three words and can feel slightly more emphatic in conversation. You can swap them freely without changing your sentence meaning.
They won the match despite their injuries.
They won the match in spite of their injuries.
Why can I not say despite of in English?
Despite is already a complete preposition on its own. Adding of is an error caused by blending despite with in spite of. Always remember that despite stands alone with no extra preposition, whereas in spite of must have all three words.
She attended the meeting despite a headache.
She attended the meeting in spite of a headache.
How can I connect despite to a subject and a verb?
You cannot place a subject and verb directly after despite or in spite of. To use a complete clause, add the words the fact that after the connector. Alternatively, you can simplify your sentence by switching to although or even though, which connect directly to subject-verb clauses.
Despite the fact that the train was delayed, we arrived on time.
Although the train was delayed, we arrived on time.
Can I put a verb ending in -ing directly after despite?
Use an -ing form after despite or in spite of when it names an activity or state. If no subject is stated for that activity, make clear who performs it, usually the main-clause subject. An -ing phrase can also have its own stated subject. Avoid wording that leaves the reader guessing.
Despite feeling exhausted, Marcus finished the marathon.
In spite of studying all night, she found the test challenging.
Before you go
Remember this
Use despite or in spite of before a noun, pronoun, or -ing verb to introduce an obstacle that failed to stop a result. Keep despite as a single word without of, and use the fact that if a full subject and verb must follow.
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Describe a personal or workplace goal that you reached recently despite facing an unexpected obstacle or delay.
You could start with “I managed to complete our project on schedule despite…”
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