Practice
Despite or in spite of: which phrase fits?
The train arrived on time despite the snow. In spite of leaving home late, Amir caught it. Both phrases show that one fact did not stop another result.
Use despite or in spite of to show an unexpected contrast, choose the right structure after each phrase, and avoid the incorrect form despite of.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
in spite of /ɪn ˈspaɪt əv/
The short answer
Use despite or in spite of before a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form. The two phrases mean nearly the same thing. Say despite the rain or in spite of the rain, but not despite of the rain.
Despite feeling tired, Lena finished the report.
Why it works: Feeling tired makes finishing the report less expected. The -ing form follows despite.
5 more examples
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Despite the heavy rain, the match continued.
The rain is the obstacle. The match continuing is the unexpected result.
Not this:
Although the rain was heavy, the match continued. What changes: Although takes a full clause with a subject and verb. Despite takes a noun phrase. -
In spite of the delay, we arrived before noon.
The delay could have made the arrival late, but it did not.
Not this:
Despite the delay, we arrived before noon. What changes: Despite gives the same contrast with a shorter phrase. -
Despite having little time, Priya called her grandmother.
Having little time is an -ing phrase. It introduces the obstacle to making the call.
Not this:
In spite of having little time, Priya called her grandmother. What changes: In spite of can also be followed by an -ing form. -
Despite the fact that the store was crowded, we found what we needed.
The words the fact that allow despite to introduce a full clause.
Not this:
In spite of the fact that the store was crowded, we found what we needed. What changes: Both longer forms are grammatical, though a shorter noun phrase is often clearer when it is available. -
In spite of him, the team stayed calm.
A pronoun can follow in spite of. The phrase says that his behavior did not change the team's reaction.
Not this:
Despite him, the team stayed calm. What changes: Despite can also be followed by a pronoun when the meaning is clear.
Read the full guide
First, find the two ideas in the sentence. One is the situation that could cause a problem. The other is the result that happened anyway. Put despite or in spite of before the situation that did not stop the result.
Show an obstacle and a result
Use these phrases when a situation could stop an action or result, but the action or result happens anyway. The phrase names the obstacle, not the result.
Despite the broken elevator, we reached the office on time.
The broken elevator is the problem. Reaching the office on time is the result that still happened.
Which phrase introduces the obstacle in Despite the broken elevator, we reached the office on time?
Despite the broken elevator introduces the obstacle.
Put a noun or pronoun after the phrase
A noun phrase is the most common structure after despite and in spite of. It can name a thing, a person, a condition, or an event.
In spite of the noise, I could concentrate.
The noise is a noun phrase. It follows in spite of directly.
Complete the sentence: ___ the traffic, Maya got to the airport early.
Use Despite the traffic or In spite of the traffic. Both forms fit.
Use an -ing form for an action
When the obstacle is an action, use a verb ending in -ing. Do not put a bare verb after despite or in spite of.
Despite studying carefully, I missed one question.
Studying carefully is the obstacle. The -ing form follows despite.
Choose the form after in spite of: In spite of ___ early, he missed the bus.
Use leaving: In spite of leaving early, he missed the bus.
Use a full clause carefully
A full clause has its own subject and verb. Put the fact that after despite or in spite of when you need that structure. Another option is although, which can introduce a clause without the fact that.
In spite of the fact that the road was closed, we found another route.
The clause the road was closed needs the fact that after in spite of.
Which is correct before the clause the room was cold: despite or despite the fact that?
Use despite the fact that: Despite the fact that the room was cold, we stayed.
Avoid despite of
Despite already includes the meaning of in spite of. Adding of after despite creates a common error. Remove of and check what follows the phrase.
Despite the late hour, the cafe was busy.
Despite of the late hour is not standard English. In spite of the late hour is correct.
Edit this phrase: despite of being tired.
Write despite being tired, or in spite of being tired.
Before you go
Remember this
Use despite or in spite of to introduce an obstacle that did not prevent the main result. Follow either phrase with a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form. Use the fact that before a full clause, and never add of after despite.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Despite or in spite of: which phrase fits?"
Do despite and in spite of mean the same thing?
In most sentences, yes. Both introduce a fact that did not prevent the main result. Despite is shorter, while in spite of has the same basic contrast meaning.
Despite the heavy rain, the match continued.
Can I say despite of?
No. Use despite the problem or in spite of the problem. Despite of is not standard English.
Although the rain was heavy, the match continued.
What can come after despite?
Use a noun, pronoun, or an -ing form: despite the weather, despite him, or despite feeling tired. For a full clause, use despite the fact that followed by the clause.
In spite of the delay, we arrived before noon.
How is although different from despite?
Although introduces a full clause with a subject and verb, as in Although it was raining, we walked. Despite usually introduces a noun phrase or an -ing phrase, as in Despite the rain, we walked.
Despite the delay, we arrived before noon.
Can despite come at the end of a sentence?
Usually, despite begins the phrase that names the obstacle, so it appears before that noun or -ing form. Put the phrase at the beginning or after the main clause: We continued despite the rain.
Despite having little time, Priya called her grandmother.