In Spite of vs Despite – Meaning, Use & Common Mistakes (B2–C1)
In spite of and despite are prepositions meaning “regardless of” or “even though”. We use them to express contrast — to show that something happened or is true even though another fact might seem to prevent it. The good news? There is no difference in meaning between them, and they are completely interchangeable in most contexts.
What do “in spite of” and “despite” mean?
Both expressions highlight a surprising contrast between two ideas. Something happened, although there was a reason it might not have happened.
They are especially common in formal writing, essays, reports and Cambridge B2 First & C1 Advanced tasks
Using “in spite of”
We use in spite of to emphasise that a fact did not stop something from happening — often with a hint of surprise.
Structure
In spite of + noun/pronoun / -ing form
In spite of the fact that + clause
In spite of the fact that + clause
- In spite of their frequent arguments, they remained good friends.
- Peter went to watch the football match in spite of the rain.
- In spite of the fact that the British were not the majority, English is the official language in Malta.
- In spite of her age, Mary was still energetic and active.
- Mark seemed very ordinary, in spite of being famous.
Tip: “In spite of” often sounds slightly more emphatic or dramatic — useful in essays when you want to underline contrast.
Using “despite”
Despite is slightly more concise and often preferred in formal writing, but the meaning is exactly the same.
Structure
Despite + noun/pronoun / -ing form
- Despite the bad weather, we had a wonderful time.
- Julia couldn’t find a job despite her great efforts.
- Despite his many problems, Simon remained optimistic.
- Despite the inspector’s efforts, he refused to reveal any information.
- The construction work continued despite strong protests from local residents.
Cambridge tip: If you want your writing to look more polished and concise, despite is often the safer choice.
In spite of vs despite – quick comparison
| Meaning | ✔️ Same | ✔️ Same |
| Grammar | Preposition | Preposition |
| Formality | Neutral–formal | Formal |
| Interchangeable? | ✔️ Yes | ✔️ Yes |
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: using them as conjunctions
❌ In spite of being poor, she was full of dignity.
✔️ Although she was poor, she was full of dignity.
✔️ Although she was poor, she was full of dignity.
Remember:
- In spite of/despite → followed by a noun or -ing
- Although / though → followed by a full clause
Mistake 2: using them instead of “regardless of”
❌ Anyone can apply despite their age or gender.
✔️ Anyone can apply regardless of their age or gender.
✔️ Anyone can apply regardless of their age or gender.
✔️ Use regardless of when something is not affected at all by circumstances.
Exam-friendly summary (B2–C1)
- In spite of and despite express contrast.
- They are prepositions, not conjunctions.
- They are followed by a noun, pronoun, or -ing form.
- For clauses, use in spite of the fact that.
- For general rules or conditions, use regardless of.
Download the exercise on inspite of vs despite in PDF here
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