Introduction
Do you ever pause mid-sentence, unsure whether to write despite or although? You are not alone. These four words—despite, in spite of, although, and even though—all express contrast and concession, but they follow different grammar patterns. Getting them right will instantly make your English sound more natural and precise. In this guide, we will break down the rules, highlight common traps, and give you 25 practice examples so you can use these connectors with confidence.
What Is Contrast and Concession?
In grammar, contrast shows a difference between two ideas, while concession means you admit a fact but still make your main point. For example, “Although it was raining, we went for a walk”—the rain is the concession, and the walk is your main point. All four expressions (despite, in spite of, although, even though) do this job, but they connect ideas in different grammatical ways. The key difference is simple: despite and in spite of are followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form), while although and even though are followed by a full subject + verb clause.
Rules
Here are the golden rules you must remember:
- Despite + noun/pronoun/gerund — no “of” after despite. Example: Despite the rain (not “despite of the rain”).
- In spite of + noun/pronoun/gerund — always with “of”. Example: In spite of the delay.
- Although + subject + verb — full clause. Example: Although she was tired.
- Even though + subject + verb — full clause, and it adds extra emphasis. Example: Even though he studied hard.
- Despite and in spite of are interchangeable — they mean exactly the same thing. Choose based on style; “despite” is slightly more common in modern English.
- Although and even though are interchangeable — but “even though” is stronger and more emphatic. Use it when the contrast is surprising or extreme.
- Never use “but” with these words in the same clause — you cannot say “Although it was cold, but we went out.” Choose one connector.
- Comma rule — when the concession clause comes first, use a comma. When it comes second, no comma is needed. Example: Although he was late, he apologized. / He apologized although he was late.
How to Use It
Follow these simple steps to choose the right word every time:
- Identify what follows the connector. Look at the word or phrase right after the blank. Is it a noun, a gerund, or a pronoun? Then use despite or in spite of. Is it a subject + verb? Then use although or even though.
- Decide on emphasis. If you want to highlight that the contrast is surprising, choose even though over although. For example, “Even though he had a broken leg, he finished the marathon” sounds stronger than “Although he had a broken leg…”.
- Check for “of” after “despite.” This is the most common error. Remember: despite never takes “of.” Say “despite the noise,” not “despite of the noise.”
- Place the connector at the start or middle. Both positions are correct. For example, “Despite the traffic, we arrived on time” or “We arrived on time despite the traffic.” The meaning stays the same.
- Use gerunds after despite/in spite of when the subject is the same. For example, “Despite feeling sick, she went to work” (instead of “Despite she felt sick”).
Examples in Sentences
Here are 25 examples that show each connector in action. Notice the bolded grammar points:
- Despite the heavy rain, the match continued.
- She passed the exam despite not studying much.
- Despite being tired, he stayed up late.
- They enjoyed the trip despite the bad weather.
- Despite his age, he runs faster than most teenagers.
- In spite of the high cost, they bought the house.
- We went hiking in spite of the cold wind.
- In spite of her fear of heights, she climbed the tower.
- He smiled in spite of feeling nervous.
- In spite of the noise, the baby slept peacefully.
- Although it was late, she called her mother.
- He finished the project although he had little time.
- Although they were strangers, they talked for hours.
- She wore a coat although the sun was shining.
- Although the food was cold, it tasted delicious.
- Even though he failed twice, he tried again.
- They left early even though the party was fun.
- Even though she was rich, she lived simply.
- He accepted the job even though the salary was low.
- Even though it was dangerous, the explorer continued.
- Despite the warning, they swam in the river.
- We trusted him in spite of his mistakes.
- Although the test was hard, everyone passed.
- Even though it was midnight, the city was busy.
- She smiled despite the bad news.
Common Mistakes
Here are the top five errors ESL learners make, with corrections:
- ❌ Despite of the rain, we went out.
✅ Despite the rain, we went out. (Never use “of” after despite.) - ❌ Although the weather, we had fun.
✅ Despite the weather, we had fun. (Although needs a full clause: “Although the weather was bad, we had fun.”) - ❌ In spite of he was sick, he worked.
✅ In spite of being sick, he worked. (Or: “Although he was sick, he worked.”) - ❌ Even though it rained, but we played outside.
✅ Even though it rained, we played outside. (Remove “but” – one connector is enough.) - ❌ Despite she was tired, she ran.
✅ Despite being tired, she ran. (Or: “Although she was tired, she ran.”)
Quick Summary
- Despite and in spite of are followed by nouns, pronouns, or gerunds.
- Although and even though are followed by subject + verb clauses.
- Despite never takes “of”; in spite of always does.
- Even though is stronger than although – use it for surprising contrasts.
- Never combine these connectors with “but” in the same sentence.
- Use a comma when the concession clause comes first.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct word: despite, in spite of, although, or even though. Answers are below.
- __________ the heavy snow, the school stayed open.
- __________ he was exhausted, he kept running.
- She bought the dress __________ it was expensive.
- __________ being late, he didn’t apologize.
- We enjoyed the picnic __________ the ants.
Answers:
- Despite / In spite of (both correct)
- Although / Even though (both correct; “even though” adds emphasis)
- although / even though (both correct)
- Despite / In spite of (both correct)
- despite / in spite of (both correct)
Conclusion
Mastering despite, in spite of, although, and even though is a huge step toward natural English fluency. Remember the core rule: nouns and gerunds go with despite/in spite of, while full clauses go with although/even though. Practice these patterns daily, and soon you will choose the right connector without thinking. Bookmark this guide for quick revision before your next writing task or exam!
FAQ
1. Is “despite” more formal than “in spite of”?
No, both are equally formal and can be used in academic and professional writing. However, despite is shorter and slightly more common in modern English, especially in news articles and business reports. In spite of is perfectly correct but can sound a bit more wordy. Choose whichever feels natural to you.
2. Can I use “although” and “even though” at the end of a sentence?
No, these connectors must be followed by a clause. You cannot say “I went out although.” Instead, you would say “I went out although it was raining.” If you want to end a sentence with a concession, you can use “though” (without “even”) informally: “I went out, though.” That is a different, more conversational usage.
3. What is the difference between “though” and “although”?
“Though” is a more informal and flexible version of “although.” It can be used at the end of a sentence (e.g., “It’s expensive, though.”) and in the middle (e.g., “He’s nice, though he’s quiet.”). “Although” is more formal and usually appears at the start or middle of a sentence before a clause. For B1–B2 learners, stick to “although” in writing and “though” in casual speech.
4. Can I use a gerund after “although”?
No, never. “Although” must be followed by a subject and a verb. If you want to use a gerund, switch to “despite” or “in spite of.” For example: ❌ “Although feeling tired, she worked.” ✅ “Despite feeling tired, she worked.” Or ✅ “Although she felt tired, she worked.” This is one of the most common errors, so always double-check what follows your connector.