Despite and in spite of are both prepositions used to introduce a contrast or an unexpected result. They mean exactly the same thing and are interchangeable, with "despite" simply being one word and "in spite of" being three. Crucially, both must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form) — never by a full clause with its own subject and verb.
- Despite the heavy rain, the match went ahead.
- In spite of the heavy rain, the match went ahead.
- She passed the exam despite not studying much.
- In spite of feeling exhausted, he finished the marathon.
- Despite his age, he still runs every morning.
- In spite of everything that happened, they stayed friends.
- Despite the fact that it was raining, the match went ahead.
Formation
Both expressions take a noun phrase or gerund, never a subject-plus-verb clause.
- Despite/in spite of + noun: Despite the traffic, we arrived on time.
- Despite/in spite of + gerund: In spite of losing the first set, she won the match.
- Despite/in spite of + the fact that + clause: Despite the fact that it was raining, we went for a walk. (this is the only way to attach a full clause)
Contrast with Although and Even Though
"Although" and "even though" are conjunctions, so they must be followed by a full clause containing a subject and a verb: Although it was raining, the match went ahead. "Despite" and "in spite of" cannot be followed the same way — Despite it was raining is incorrect. To express the same idea with "despite" or "in spite of," the sentence must be rephrased with a noun or gerund, or by inserting "the fact that": Despite the rain, the match went ahead or Despite the fact that it was raining, the match went ahead.
Both pairs of expressions can appear at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma, or in the middle joining two clauses: The match went ahead despite the rain / The match went ahead although it was raining.
Summary Table
| Expression | Followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|
despite | noun / gerund | Despite the cost, they bought it. |
in spite of | noun / gerund | In spite of the cost, they bought it. |
although | subject + verb (clause) | Although it was expensive, they bought it. |
even though | subject + verb (clause) | Even though it was expensive, they bought it. |
Tip: If you want to keep the subject-and-verb clause after "despite" or "in spite of," insert "the fact that" between them: "despite the fact that..." This lets you reuse a clause you have already formed without rewriting it as a noun phrase.
Common Mistakes
-
Following "despite" directly with a clause:
Incorrect: Despite it was raining, we went out.
Correct: Despite the rain, we went out. -
Adding "of" after "despite":
Incorrect: Despite of the traffic, we arrived on time.
Correct: Despite the traffic, we arrived on time. -
Dropping "of" after "in spite":
Incorrect: In spite the cold, we went swimming.
Correct: In spite of the cold, we went swimming.
Practice Exercises
Grammar Quiz
Test your understanding with targeted questions.
Complete the Sentence
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True or False
Decide whether each example sentence is correct.
Flash Cards
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Matching Pairs
Match examples to the correct rule or category.
Unjumble
Reorder scrambled words into a correct sentence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between "despite" and "in spite of"?
There is no difference in meaning — both introduce a contrast or unexpected result. "Despite" is a single word, while "in spite of" is a three-word phrase with the same function, as in "Despite the rain, we went out" and "In spite of the rain, we went out."
What can follow "despite" and "in spite of"?
Both must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form), such as "despite the cost" or "despite losing," never by a full clause with its own subject and verb.
Can "despite" be followed by a full clause?
Not directly. "Despite it was raining" is incorrect. To use a full clause, add "the fact that": "Despite the fact that it was raining, the match went ahead."
What is the difference between "despite" and "although"?
"Despite" is a preposition followed by a noun or gerund ("despite the rain"), while "although" is a conjunction followed by a full clause with a subject and verb ("although it was raining").
Is it correct to say "despite of"?
No, "despite of" is incorrect. "Despite" never takes "of" after it — only "in spite of" includes "of", as in "despite the traffic" and "in spite of the traffic."
Can "despite" or "in spite of" start a sentence?
Yes, both can begin a sentence, followed by a comma before the main clause, as in "Despite the cost, they bought the house."
What is the difference between "despite" and "even though"?
Like "although," "even though" is a conjunction followed by a clause, and it is generally a stronger or more emphatic version of "although," while "despite" is a preposition that takes a noun or gerund, not a clause.
Can "despite" be followed by a gerund?
Yes, a gerund (-ing form) is a common structure after "despite" and "in spite of," as in "She passed the exam despite not studying much."
Is "despite" more formal than "although"?
"Despite" and "in spite of" are often perceived as slightly more formal or written in tone, especially "in spite of," while "although" and "even though" are common in both spoken and written English.
How do you fix a sentence that wrongly uses "despite" with a clause?
Either rewrite the clause as a noun phrase or gerund ("Despite the rain" instead of "Despite it was raining"), or keep the clause and add "the fact that" ("Despite the fact that it was raining").