*Despite Of | Meaning, Spelling & Use

Despite is a preposition meaning “regardless of,” “even though,” or “notwithstanding.”

Because the prepositions despite and in spite of mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably, people sometimes mistakenly combine the words and write “despite of.” However, this is never correct.

Examples: Despite of, despite and in spite of
  • Despite of the tasteless humor, I enjoyed the film.
  • Despite the tasteless humor, I enjoyed the film.
  • In spite of the tasteless humor, I enjoyed the film.

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Frequently asked questions

What does despite mean?

Despite is a preposition used to mean “regardless of,” “notwithstanding,” or “even though.”

It’s used in a subordinate clause to contrast with information given in the main clause of a sentence (e.g., “Despite the stress, Joe loves his job”).

What does in spite of mean?

In spite of is a preposition used to mean “regardless of,” “notwithstanding,” or “even though.”

It’s always used in a subordinate clause to contrast with the information given in the main clause of a sentence (e.g., “Amy continued to watch TV, in spite of the time”).

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Ryan, E. (2023, October 05). *Despite Of | Meaning, Spelling & Use. Scribbr. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/common-mistakes/despite-of/

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Eoghan Ryan

Eoghan has a lot of experience with theses and dissertations at bachelor's, MA, and PhD level. He has taught university English courses, helping students to improve their research and writing.