Prepositions · CEFR B1
“Despite of” or “despite”? Despite vs in spite of
Incorrect
despite of
Correct
despite / in spite of
Use “despite” or “in spite of” - never “despite of”. “Despite the rain, we went out.” / “In spite of the rain, we went out.”
The rule
Despite and in spite of mean the same thing. Both are followed by a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing verb.
Before a full clause, add the fact that: “Despite the fact that it was raining…”. Or use although: “Although it was raining…”.
Examples
✗ Despite of the traffic, we arrived on time.
✓ Despite the traffic, we arrived on time.
✗ Despite of being tired, she kept working.
✓ Despite being tired, she kept working.
✗ Despite it was late, he called.
✓ Although it was late, he called.
Why learners make this mistake
Learners mix the two forms together - “despite” and “in spite of” - and end up with “despite of”.
Remember
The “of” belongs to “in spite of”. Despite travels alone.
Frequently asked questions
- Is “in spite of” more formal than “despite”?
- Not really. Despite is slightly more common in writing, but both are fine in any register.
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