Introduction
Do you ever hesitate when choosing between despite and in spite of? You are not alone. These two phrases express the same idea of contrast and concession, yet they confuse even advanced learners. In this guide, you will learn exactly how to use them correctly, avoid common traps, and sound more natural in your writing and speaking.
What Is Contrast and Concession?
In English grammar, contrast shows a difference between two ideas. Concession goes one step further: you admit (concede) a fact, but then you present an unexpected result. For example, “He was tired, yet he finished the race.” The words despite and in spite of are prepositions that introduce this concessive relationship. They mean exactly the same thing: “not being affected by” or “even though.” The only difference is style – in spite of is slightly more formal and common in written English, while despite is more compact and frequent in everyday speech.
Rules
Follow these numbered rules to use despite and in spite of without errors.
- They are prepositions, not conjunctions. This means they must be followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form). They cannot be followed by a full clause with a subject and verb.
- They are interchangeable. You can swap despite for in spite of in any sentence and keep the same meaning. There is no difference in meaning or formality in modern usage.
- Use “of” only with “in spite.” You cannot say “despite of.” The correct forms are despite (no “of”) and in spite of (with “of”).
- After them, use a noun phrase or gerund. For example: despite the rain (noun) or despite raining (gerund). If you need a full clause, use although or even though.
- Placement is flexible. You can put these phrases at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When at the beginning, add a comma after the phrase.
- Do not use “but” together with them. Since they already show contrast, adding “but” is redundant. Say “Despite being tired, he worked,” not “Despite being tired, but he worked.”
How to Use It
Follow this simple step-by-step method to build correct sentences every time.
Step 1: Identify the contrast. Think of the surprising result. For example, you want to say: “It was raining. The match continued.” The contrast is between the rain and the match.
Step 2: Choose your phrase. Pick despite or in spite of. Both work. Let us use despite for brevity.
Step 3: Convert the first idea into a noun or gerund. The rain is already a noun. So you write: Despite the rain, the match continued. If you have a verb, change it to a gerund: Despite raining heavily, the match continued.
Step 4: Place the phrase correctly. Put it at the start (add a comma) or after the main clause: The match continued despite the rain. No comma is needed in the middle.
Step 5: Check for “of.” If you chose in spite of, do not forget the “of.” Write: In spite of the rain, the match continued. Never write “in spite the rain.”
Step 6: For full clauses, switch to “although.” If you want to use a subject + verb, say: Although it was raining, the match continued. Do not say “Despite it was raining.”
Examples in Sentences
Here are 10+ natural sentences. Notice the bolded grammar points.
- Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
- She passed the exam in spite of studying only for one night.
- Despite being exhausted, the team played brilliantly.
- He accepted the job in spite of the low salary.
- Despite his age, he runs faster than most teenagers.
- They went hiking in spite of the freezing cold.
- Despite having no experience, she got the position.
- We enjoyed the picnic in spite of the ants.
- Despite the noise, the baby slept peacefully.
- He apologized in spite of not being wrong.
- Despite all our efforts, the project failed.
- She smiled in spite of her fear of public speaking.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these frequent errors. Each shows the wrong version and the correct fix.
❌ Despite of the rain, we went out.
✅ Despite the rain, we went out. (No “of” after despite)
❌ In spite the rain, we went out.
✅ In spite of the rain, we went out. (Always include “of” after “in spite”)
❌ Despite it was raining, we went out.
✅ Although it was raining, we went out. (Use “although” for a full clause)
❌ Despite being tired, but he finished.
✅ Despite being tired, he finished. (Remove “but”)
❌ She came in spite of she was sick.
✅ She came in spite of her sickness. / She came although she was sick. (Use a noun after “in spite of”)
Quick Summary
- Despite and in spite of are identical in meaning – choose either one.
- Both are prepositions, so they take a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
- Never say “despite of” or “in spite” without “of.”
- Use although or even though when you need a subject + verb.
- Place them at the start (with a comma) or in the middle (no comma).
- Do not pair them with “but” – they already express contrast.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with despite or in spite of (both are correct). Write your answers, then check below.
- __________ the cold water, she went swimming.
- He failed the test __________ studying hard.
- __________ being late, he missed the meeting.
- They adopted the dog __________ its loud barking.
- __________ the warning, he touched the hot stove.
Answers:
- Despite / In spite of (the cold water)
- Despite / In spite of (studying hard)
- Despite / In spite of (being late)
- Despite / In spite of (its loud barking)
- Despite / In spite of (the warning)
Conclusion
You now have a complete toolkit for using despite and in spite of with confidence. Remember the golden rule: they are prepositions, not conjunctions, so always follow them with a noun or gerund. Practice with the exercises above, and soon these phrases will feel completely natural in your English.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between “despite” and “in spite of”?
There is no difference in meaning. They are perfect synonyms. “Despite” is slightly shorter and more common in modern English, while “in spite of” is a bit more formal and traditional. You can use them interchangeably in any context.
2. Can I use “despite” with a full sentence?
No. “Despite” is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund. For a full clause with a subject and verb, use “although” or “even though.” Example: “Despite being tired” (correct) vs. “Despite he was tired” (incorrect) → “Although he was tired” (correct).
3. Is “despite of” ever correct?
No, never. “Despite” already contains the idea of “of,” so adding “of” is redundant and grammatically wrong. The correct forms are “despite” (no “of”) and “in spite of” (with “of”).
4. Do I need a comma after “despite” or “in spite of”?
It depends on placement. If the phrase starts the sentence, use a comma after the entire phrase: “Despite the rain, we went out.” If the phrase appears in the middle or at the end, no comma is needed: “We went out despite the rain.”