Is “Despite Of” Correct in English?
Despite Of: What Is the Mistake?
Wrong: Despite of the rain, we went out.
Correct: Despite the rain, we went out.
The problem is the extra word “of.” In English, we do not use “of” after “despite.” This is a preposition mistake, and it makes the sentence sound unnatural and grammatically wrong.
Why “Despite Of” Is Wrong
“Despite” already has the meaning of “in spite of,” so it does not need “of” after it.
Learners often make this mistake because two correct forms look very similar:
- Correct: despite the rain
- Correct: in spite of the rain
The wrong form “despite of” mixes these two structures together.
Use:
- despite + noun
- in spite of + noun
For example:
- Despite the problem, we continued.
- In spite of the problem, we continued.
You can also use “despite” before an -ing form:
- Despite feeling tired, she finished the work.
But don’t say:
- Despite of feeling tired
If you want to use a full sentence with subject + verb, “although” is often easier:
- Although it was raining, we went out.
How to say it correctly
- Correct: Despite the rain, we went out.
- Correct: In spite of the rain, we went out.
- Also natural: It was raining, but we still went out.
“Despite the rain” is neutral and works well in writing. “In spite of the rain” is also correct and sounds a little more conversational. In everyday spoken English, “It was raining, but we still went out” can sound very natural and simple.
For work or email, you can say:
- Despite the delay, we completed the project.
This sounds clear and professional.
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Common Mistakes with “Despite” and “In Spite Of”
| Common mistake | Correct form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Despite of the rain, we went out. | Despite the rain, we went out. | Do not use “of” after “despite.” |
| Despite of the delay, we finished the project. | Despite the delay, we finished the project. | “Despite” is used directly before a noun. |
| Despite of feeling tired, she continued. | Despite feeling tired, she continued. | Use “despite” before an -ing form without “of.” |
| Despite it was raining, we went out. | Although it was raining, we went out. | Use “although” before a full sentence with subject + verb. |
| In spite the rain, we went out. | In spite of the rain, we went out. | The full phrase is “in spite of.” |
| In despite of the problem, we continued. | Despite the problem, we continued. | Do not mix “in spite of” and “despite.” |
| Despite of the fact that he was tired, he worked. | Despite the fact that he was tired, he worked. | Use “despite the fact that,” not “despite of the fact that.” |
| Despite he was tired, he worked. | Although he was tired, he worked. | Use “although” before a full clause. |
The easiest rule is this: use “despite” without “of,” use “in spite of” as a full phrase, and use “although” before a full sentence.
