how do you use In spite od and Despite properly? Could anybody tell me the differences?

2 Answers

2votes

Dio 2600

As per this reference: http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/difficulties/despiteinspiteof.html

"Despite" means "even though," "notwithstanding," or "regardless of." It's the opposite of "because of/due to," and can be used with a noun or gerund.

  • She had difficulty communicating in French despite all her years of study.
  • We lost the game, despite the fact that we practiced all week.
  • Despite not having an umbrella, I walked home in the rain.

"In spite of" means exactly the same thing and is used exactly the same way as "despite."

  • She had difficulty communicating in French in spite of all her years of study.
  • We lost the game, in spite of the fact that we practiced all week.
  • In spite of not having an umbrella, I walked home in the rain.

So, they can safely be used interchangeably. You may notice that in all the above examples, "despite" has not been used with "of" but it can definitely be used in certain contexts such as this:

  • A large number of ladies, both from this City and abroad, who had come out, despite of the driving rain-storm, were in attendance, and occupied seats in the galleries.

The only difference between in spite of and despite is the ‘of’.

You don't use "Despite of the reason". You use "Despite the reason"

Despite the pain in his leg he completed the marathon.

It seems to me "in spite of" is a slightly more elaborate form, to be used in more fancy, most formal writing. "Despite" is not informal but not quite that elaborate.

edit: as mcalex mentions, "Despite of" (and even "In despite of") is not incorrect, it's just an almost dead archaic form.

3votes

Master 7320

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