Despite vs In Spite Of vs Although: ESL Guide

Introduction

Do you ever stop mid-sentence because you are not sure whether to use despite, in spite of, or although? You are not alone. These three words all express contrast and concession, but they follow different grammar rules. Learning the difference will make your English sound more natural and accurate.

What Is Contrast and Concession?

Contrast and concession are ways of connecting two ideas that seem to disagree with each other. When you use a concession word, you accept that one fact is true, but you introduce a surprising or opposite result. For example, “Although it was raining, we went for a walk” shows that the rain did not stop the walk. The words despite, in spite of, and although all do this job, but they need different structures after them.

In short: although is a conjunction followed by a clause (subject + verb), while despite and in spite of are prepositions followed by a noun, pronoun, or -ing form.

Rules

1. Although + clause: Use although before a full clause with a subject and a verb. Example: Although she was tired, she finished her homework.
2. Despite / In spite of + noun: Use these before a noun or noun phrase. Example: Despite the noise, I fell asleep.
3. Despite / In spite of + pronoun: They can be followed by a pronoun like this, that, or it. Example: In spite of that, we continued.
4. Despite / In spite of + -ing form: Use the gerund (-ing) when you want to show an action. Example: Despite feeling ill, he went to work.
5. Although can go at the beginning or in the middle: When it is in the middle, do not use a comma before it in careful writing. Example: We went out although it was cold.
6. Despite and in spite of are interchangeable: They have the same meaning and grammar. In spite of is slightly more formal and emphatic.
7. Never use “despite of”: This is always wrong. Use despite or in spite of, but never combine them.
8. Do not use “although” with a noun: You cannot say although the rain. You need a verb: although it rained.

How to Use It

Follow these steps to choose the right word every time:

1. Look at what comes after the word. Is it a clause (subject + verb) or a noun/gerund?
2. If it is a clause, use although. Example: Although he studied hard, he failed the test.
3. If it is a noun or gerund, use despite or in spite of. Example: Despite studying hard, he failed the test.
4. Check the position. Although can start a sentence or join two clauses. Despite and in spite of usually start a phrase at the beginning or come before a noun in the middle.
5. Punctuation: When the contrast phrase comes first, use a comma before the main clause. Example: In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time.

Examples in Sentences

Here are 25 examples. The grammar point is bolded so you can see the pattern.

• Although it was late, she kept working.
• Despite the cold weather, they went hiking.
• In spite of his injury, he finished the race.
• We enjoyed the trip although the hotel was noisy.
• Despite being tired, I cooked dinner.
• In spite of the rain, the concert continued.
• Although she is young, she is very wise.
• Despite the high price, many people bought the phone.
• In spite of the difficulty, we solved the problem.
• He passed the exam although he didn’t study much.
• Despite my warnings, he drove too fast.
• In spite of everything, they remained friends.
• Although I was nervous, I gave a good speech.
• Despite the noise, the baby slept peacefully.
• In spite of the traffic, we caught the train.
• She smiled although she was sad.
• Despite having no experience, he got the job.
• In spite of the storm, the flight took off.
• Although it rained, the game was not cancelled.
• Despite the criticism, she continued her project.
• In spite of the long wait, we stayed calm.
• He is happy although he has little money.
• Despite the language barrier, they became friends.
• In spite of the danger, the firefighters entered the building.
• Although the task was hard, we finished it on time.

Common Mistakes

Watch out for these typical errors:

1. Using “despite of”: ❌ Despite of the rain, we went out. ✅ Despite the rain, we went out. (or In spite of the rain…)
2. Using “although” with a noun: ❌ Although the rain, we went out. ✅ Although it rained, we went out.
3. Using “despite” with a clause: ❌ Despite he was tired, he worked. ✅ Despite being tired, he worked. (or Although he was tired, he worked.)
4. Forgetting the -ing form after despite/in spite of: ❌ Despite study hard, he failed. ✅ Despite studying hard, he failed.
5. Using a comma incorrectly: ❌ Although, it was cold we went out. ✅ Although it was cold, we went out.

Quick Summary

• Although + subject + verb (clause).
• Despite / In spite of + noun, pronoun, or -ing form.
• Despite and in spite of are the same; in spite of is a little more formal.
• Never say despite of.
• Use a comma when the contrast phrase comes first.
• All three words express contrast and concession.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with although, despite, or in spite of. (Some blanks may have more than one correct answer.)

1. _______ it was snowing, we went for a walk.
2. _______ the heavy snow, we went for a walk.
3. She passed the test _______ not studying very much.
4. _______ he is rich, he lives simply.
5. _______ the high cost, they bought the house.

Answers:

1. Although
2. Despite / In spite of
3. despite / in spite of
4. Although
5. Despite / In spite of

Conclusion

Choosing between despite, in spite of, and although becomes easy once you check what comes after the word. Use although with a clause, and despite or in spite of with a noun or -ing form. With a little practice, you will use these contrast words correctly and confidently.

FAQ

1. Can I use “despite” and “in spite of” interchangeably?

Yes, they have the same meaning and grammar. In spite of is slightly more formal and emphatic, but both are correct in everyday English.

2. Is “although” the same as “though”?

They are very similar. Although is a bit more formal. Though is common in speaking and can also go at the end of a sentence (e.g., It was cold. We went out, though.).

3. Can I use “despite” at the end of a sentence?

No. Despite and in spite of need a noun, pronoun, or -ing form after them. They cannot stand alone at the end like though can.

4. What is the difference between “although” and “however”?

Although joins two clauses in one sentence (e.g., Although it rained, we went out.). However is an adverb that usually starts a new sentence or clause with a comma (e.g., It rained. However, we went out.).