Although / in spite of / despite
Although / in spite of / despite
After althoughwe use a subject + verb:
• Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.
• I didn’t get the job although I had all the necessary qualifications.
Compare the meaning of although and because:
• We went out although it was raining.
• We didn’t go out because it was raining.
After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc.) or –ing:
• In spite ofthe rain, we enjoyed our holiday.
• I didn’t get the job in spite of having all the necessary qualifications.
• She wasn’t well, but in spite of this she went to work.
• In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you.
Despite is the same as in spite of. Note that we say ‘in spite of, but despite (without ‘of’):
• She wasn’t well, but despitethis she went to work, (not ‘despite of this’)
You can say ‘in spite of the fact(that)…’ and ‘despite the fact (that)…’:
I didn’t get the job in spite of the fact that I had all the necessary qualifications
I didn’t get the job despite the fact (that) I had all the necessary qualifications.
Compare in spite of and because of:
• We went out in spite of the rain, (or …despite the rain.)
• We didn’t go out because of the rain.
Compare although and in spite of / despite:
• Althoughthe traffic was bad. I arrived on time, (not in spite or the traffic was bad (not in spite or the traffic was bad)
In spite of the traffic, I arrived on time (not in spite or the traffic was bad)
I couldn’t sleep although I was very tired (not despite I was tired)
I couldn’t sleep despite being very tired (not despite I was tired
