With the word “despite” spelled as one word, it’s easy to see why people also write “inspite.” But did you know that “inspite” should have a space between “in” and “spite”? That’s right! “In spite” is the correct spelling and not “inspite.” So, if you’re wondering which one you should use between inspite or despite, “despite” and “in spite” are the only correct words that you should use.
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What Is Despite?
Despite is a preposition showing the contrast between two ideas (often between a negative situation and a positive outcome), often highlighting a surprising or unexpected outcome. You will typically see despite used before nouns, gerunds, or phrases with a relative pronoun.
Interestingly, the word despite was once used as a noun which meant contempt. So, where did the word come from? Its origin is from the Old French “despit,” which came from the Latin “despectus.”
Example sentences:
- He managed to finish the swimming marathon despite his injury.
- Despite their differences, they became close friends.
- They continued playing the game despite the rain.
- Despite the warnings, they still continued with their hike.
- Despite the heavy traffic, she arrived on time for the meeting.
When and How to Use Despite?
What’s the correct usage of despite? Well, since the word despite shows contrast, you can use it in contexts wherein one thing happened even though something else might suggest otherwise.
For instance, you could say, “Despite the rain, we had a great day at the festival.” Here, “despite” indicates that even though it was raining, you (and your friends) still had a great time.
So, where should you place despite in your sentences? You can put despite in the beginning or the middle of a sentence. Here are the common sentence structures of despite.
Despite + Noun + Main Clause
- Despite the cold, they went for a swim in the lake.
- Despite the cost, they decided to go ahead with the renovations.
- Despite her fears, she gave an excellent presentation.
Despite + Gerund (-ing form)
- Despite working all night, they managed to meet the deadline.
- Despite living far away, he visits his family every weekend.
- Despite feeling tired, she stayed up late to finish the project.
Despite + Fact + Clause
- Despite the fact that the flight was delayed, they managed to arrive at their destination without any further issues.
- Despite the fact that I was sick, I took the test
- Despite the fact that he was late, she waited for him.
What Is In Spite?
Now, let’s talk about “in spite.” Both “despite” and “in spite of” have the same meaning and are used similarly.
Here are some examples of “in spite” in a sentence:
- In spite of the heavy rain, she was able to arrive on time for her flight.
- In spite of his fear of heights, he was able to complete the obstacle.
- She started to laugh in spite of herself.
- Sometimes, we develop an interest in politics almost in spite of ourselves.
- In spite of himself, he couldn’t stop staring at the injured man.
When and How to Use In Spite
“In spite” is always followed by “of.” But remember, you should never write “in spite” as a single word because “inspite” is a misspelling.
As mentioned earlier, “in spite of” works similarly to “despite.” For example, “In spite of the heavy traffic, she arrived on time” and “Despite the heavy traffic, she arrived on time.” Both sentences communicate the same idea.
Tip: “In spite” can sound a bit more formal than “despite.”
What’s the Difference Between Despite vs. In Spite?
The main difference between these terms is that despite is one word, and “in spite of” is three. Technically, there is a slight difference. Don’t forget that “in spite” should always be followed by “of.”
Tip: You can also use “even though” to express contrast. However, keep in mind that “even though” is a subordinating conjunction and not a preposition. So, you should always follow “even” with a complete sentence or thought.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, “inspite” is a misspelling; the correct form is always “in spite.” You can use “despite” and “in spite” interchangeably because they share the same meaning.
