What Does "in spite of" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "In spite of" is a complex preposition used to express concession. It indicates that something is happening or is true even though there is something else that might have prevented it or suggests the opposite.
- Typical sentence position: It can appear in the initial position (starting a sentence) or the medial position (following a main clause).
- Register: It is generally considered neutral to formal, making it suitable for both professional journalism and academic essays.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: It is always followed by a noun phrase, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form). It cannot be followed directly by a finite clause unless you use the bridge phrase "in spite of the fact that."
- Punctuation rules: When used at the beginning of a sentence, the introductory phrase must be followed by a comma. When used in the middle of a sentence, a comma is usually unnecessary unless it is used for stylistic emphasis or to separate a non-restrictive element.
- Grammatical flexibility: It is highly mobile. You can say "In spite of the rain, we went out" or "We went out in spite of the rain." It cannot be negated directly (e.g., "not in spite of"), though the context around it can be negative.
- What sounds unnatural: Following "in spite of" directly with a verb (e.g., "in spite of go") or a full subject-verb clause (e.g., "in spite of he was tired") is grammatically incorrect.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from in spite of on Ludwig.guru.
"In spite of everything." — newyorker.com
"In spite of his policies." — nytimes.com
"I wondered, in spite of myself." — nytimes.com
"In spite of the facts." — theguardian.com
"Act in spite of your inner critic." — hbr.org
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/in+spite+of
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.
| Phrase |
Context |
| despite |
More concise and slightly more formal; functions identically but does not use "of". |
| notwithstanding |
Very formal; often used in legal or highly academic contexts. |
| regardless of |
Focuses on the lack of influence or relevance of the opposing factor. |
| even though |
Used to introduce a full clause (subject + verb) rather than just a noun phrase. |
| albeit |
Formal; used to introduce a concessive adjective or adverbial phrase. |
Common Mistakes
- The "Despite of" Error: One of the most frequent mistakes is confusing in spite of with despite. Remember that despite never takes the preposition "of."
- Missing Noun Phrase: Learners often try to follow the expression with a full clause. You must use a noun, pronoun, or gerund, or add "the fact that" to introduce a clause.
- Punctuation Neglect: Forgetting the comma after an initial in spite of phrase can make long sentences difficult to parse for the reader.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| in spite of |
Concession/Contrast |
Neutral/Formal |
Initial or Medial |
FAQs
Where in a sentence can in spite of appear?
You can place in spite of at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize the obstacle, or in the middle to emphasize the main action. When used at the start, ensure you place a comma after the concessive phrase to separate it from the main clause.
How does in spite of differ from despite?
Both expressions function as prepositions and share the exact same meaning of concession. The only grammatical difference is that in spite of consists of three words and requires of, while despite is a single word that must never be followed by of.
Is it correct to say in spite of the or in spite of that?
Learners often mistakenly add extra words or confuse the structure, but in spite of can be followed by a definite article like the or a demonstrative pronoun like that. However, you must never use the word despite with of, as this is a common grammatical error.