Introduction
Do you ever pause mid-sentence, unsure whether to write despite, in spite of, or although? You are not alone. These three expressions are among the most confusing points in English grammar, even for advanced learners. The good news? Once you understand one simple rule about sentence structure, you will never mix them up again. In this guide, we will break down the rules, highlight the most common traps, and give you 25 practical examples to lock in your knowledge.
What Is Contrast and Concession?
Before we dive into the words themselves, let us clarify the concept. Contrast shows a difference between two ideas. Concession is a specific type of contrast where you admit (concede) a fact, but then show that it does not change the main outcome. For example: “It was raining, but we still went for a walk.” The rain is the concession; the walk is the main result.
Despite, in spite of, and although are all tools for expressing concession. However, they work differently in a sentence. The key difference is grammatical: despite and in spite of are prepositions (followed by a noun or gerund), while although is a conjunction (followed by a subject + verb).
Rules
Here are the four golden rules you must remember:
- Despite and in spite of are prepositions. They must be followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form). You cannot put a full clause (subject + verb) directly after them.
- Although is a subordinating conjunction. It must be followed by a complete clause with a subject and a verb. You cannot use it before a noun alone.
- Despite and in spite of are identical in meaning. There is zero difference in meaning. “In spite of” is slightly more formal and emphatic, but both are perfectly correct in all registers.
- Never write “despite of.” This is a very common error. You write “despite” alone, or “in spite of” as three words. There is no such phrase as “despite of.”
How to Use It
Follow these simple steps to choose the right expression every time:
Step 1: Identify what follows the blank. Look at the word or phrase that comes after your chosen expression. Is it a noun, a gerund, or a full clause?
Step 2: If it is a noun or gerund, use despite or in spite of. For example: “Despite the rain” (noun) or “In spite of feeling tired” (gerund).
Step 3: If it is a full clause (subject + verb), use although. For example: “Although it was raining” (subject: it, verb: was raining).
Step 4: Check the position. All three can start a sentence or appear in the middle. If they start a sentence, put a comma after the concession phrase. If they are in the middle, no comma is needed (unless the clause is very long).
Step 5: Practice transforming sentences. This is the best way to internalise the rule. Take a sentence with “although” and rewrite it with “despite” by changing the clause into a gerund phrase. For example: “Although he was angry” becomes “Despite being angry.”
Examples in Sentences
Here are 15 clear examples. Pay attention to the bolded grammar point and the words that follow it.
- Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
- She passed the exam despite studying only the night before.
- In spite of his wealth, he lives very simply.
- They enjoyed the picnic in spite of the cold wind.
- Although it was late, the children were still playing outside.
- He went to work although he felt terribly ill.
- Despite being exhausted, she finished the marathon.
- In spite of the warning signs, tourists walked on the cliff.
- Although the restaurant was expensive, the food was disappointing.
- We bought the house despite the noisy neighbourhood.
- In spite of what you said, I still trust her.
- Although he is young, he is very responsible.
- She accepted the job despite the low salary.
- Although they had never met, they talked like old friends.
- He kept smiling in spite of the terrible news.
Common Mistakes
Even advanced learners make these errors. Read carefully and avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using “despite of”
❌ Despite of the rain, we went out.
✅ Despite the rain, we went out.
✅ In spite of the rain, we went out.
Mistake 2: Putting a clause after “despite”
❌ Despite he was tired, he kept working.
✅ Despite being tired, he kept working.
✅ Although he was tired, he kept working.
Mistake 3: Putting a noun after “although”
❌ Although the rain, we went out.
✅ Although it was raining, we went out.
✅ Despite the rain, we went out.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the comma when starting a sentence
❌ Although he was sick he came to class.
✅ Although he was sick, he came to class.
Mistake 5: Using “in spite” without “of”
❌ In spite the cost, we booked the flight.
✅ In spite of the cost, we booked the flight.
Quick Summary
- Despite + noun/gerund (no “of”).
- In spite of + noun/gerund (always with “of”).
- Although + subject + verb (full clause).
- All three mean the same thing: “this fact does not change the main result.”
- Use a comma after the concession phrase when it begins a sentence.
- To transform: change “although + clause” into “despite + gerund” or “in spite of + noun.”
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank with despite, in spite of, or although. There may be more than one correct answer. Answers are below.
- __________ the high price, the concert was completely sold out.
- __________ she was nervous, she gave a brilliant presentation.
- He didn’t get the job __________ having excellent qualifications.
- __________ the fact that it was midnight, the streets were crowded.
- We went hiking __________ the weather forecast predicted storms.
Answers:
- Despite / In spite of (both correct, followed by noun phrase “the high price”)
- Although (followed by clause “she was nervous”)
- Despite / In spite of (followed by gerund “having”)
- Despite / In spite of (followed by noun phrase “the fact that…”)
- Although (followed by clause “the weather forecast predicted”)
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between despite, in spite of, and although is a major step toward natural, fluent English. Remember the simple rule: prepositions for nouns and gerunds, conjunctions for clauses. With regular practice, these choices will become automatic. Bookmark this guide and return to it whenever you need a quick refresher. You are well on your way to confident, accurate writing.
FAQ
Q1: Can “despite” and “in spite of” be used interchangeably in all situations?
Yes, they are completely interchangeable in terms of meaning and grammar. The only difference is style: “in spite of” is slightly more formal and can sound a bit more emphatic. In everyday conversation, “despite” is more common. Choose whichever sounds better to you; neither is ever wrong.
Q2: Is it ever correct to say “despite of”?
No, never. “Despite” is a single preposition and does not take “of.” This is one of the most common errors in English. If you feel the need to use “of,” then switch to “in spite of.” For example, say “despite the rain” or “in spite of the rain,” but never “despite of the rain.”
Q3: What is the difference between “although” and “though”?
“Though” is the informal and more common version of “although.” They follow the same grammar rules (both are conjunctions followed by a clause). “Although” is slightly more formal and is preferred in academic writing. “Though” is also used at the end of a sentence as an adverb meaning “however,” which “although” cannot do. For example: “It was expensive. I bought it, though.”
Q4: Can I use “despite” with “the fact that” to create a full clause?
Yes, this is a useful trick. If you want to use “despite” or “in spite of” with a full clause, you can add “the fact that.” For example: “Despite the fact that he was tired, he kept working.” This is grammatically correct because “the fact that” is a noun phrase. However, it is wordier than simply using “although.” For concise writing, prefer “although.”