What is the difference between although and despite?

Although takes a clause with a subject and a verb: Although the rehearsal overran, we caught the ferry. Despite takes a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form: Despite the overrun, we caught the ferry. The meaning is the same concession; only the slot after the marker changes. Despite the rehearsal overran is the error that mixing those slots produces.

Are despite and in spite of the same?

Yes, in meaning. Both are prepositions and both take a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form: Despite the drizzle. In spite of the drizzle. The only structural difference is the extra of, which is required in in spite of and forbidden after despite. Pick one per sentence and do not write despite of.

When should I use even though instead of although?

Use even though when you want to underline how surprising the result is: Even though the ferry was cancelled, they hired a skipper. Although would also be grammatical there; even though just turns the volume up on the clash. Do not write even although. Though on its own is a lighter, often more spoken, version of although.

Can I put a verb after despite?

Not a finite verb. Despite she was tired is wrong. You can put an -ing form (Despite being tired, she stayed) because that is a noun-like form, not a tensed clause. If you already have a tensed clause and still want despite, add the fact that: despite the fact that she was tired. Although she was tired is usually the cleaner sentence.

Do I need a comma after although?

When the although-clause comes first, yes: Although it was sleeting, the path stayed open. When it comes second, a comma before although is common but not compulsory in a short pair: The path stayed open although it was sleeting. The same comma pattern applies to even though, despite, and in spite of at the start of a sentence.

English grammar · Intermediate

Although vs Despite: Clause or Noun Phrase

Written by Eleanor Whitfield, Lead English Curriculum Editor · Reviewed September 2026

Although and even though introduce a full clause (subject plus verb) that goes against the result that follows: Although the tide was out, they launched the dinghy. Despite and in spite of take a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form, not a clause: Despite the tide, they launched. Even though is a stronger although. The four markers all signal concession; they are not interchangeable, because the slot after them is different.

Although the rehearsal overran, we caught the last crossing; despite the delay, the dinghy was still tied up.

although plus a clause, despite plus a noun

What it is

These four markers all say: this fact would make you expect the opposite, and yet the opposite did not happen. The grammar split is clean. Although and even though are conjunctions, so they need a clause with a subject and a finite verb. Despite and in spite of are prepositions, so they need a noun, a pronoun, or an -ing form. Mixing the slots is the error this page exists to stop: although the rain is right, despite the rain is right, although raining and despite it was raining are not. However, whereas, and on the other hand belong on the wider contrasting-words page; this one stays with these four.

Even though the kiln was still cooling, she opened the door. Despite the heat, she opened the door. In spite of feeling the blast, she opened the door. (Clause, noun, -ing: three legal follow-ups, one meaning.)

How to spot it

Look at the words immediately after the marker. If you see a subject and a verb (the rehearsal overran, she was exhausted), you need although or even though. If you see a noun, pronoun, or -ing (the delay, that, feeling dizzy), you need despite or in spite of.

Although the rehearsal overran, nobody left the stalls. (although plus a finite clause)
Even though the tide was out, they launched the dinghy. (even though: a stronger although)
Despite the scaffolding, the café stayed open. (despite plus a noun phrase)
In spite of feeling dizzy, she finished the set. (in spite of plus -ing)

Though works like although and is slightly more informal, especially at the end of a sentence (The ferry was late, though.). Despite of is not English; the of belongs only to in spite of.

Although, Even Though, Despite, In Spite Of Quick Reference

What follows each of the four markers

Marker	Followed by	Example
although	a clause (subject + finite verb)	Although she was exhausted, she stayed for the encore.
even though	a clause, often a surprising one	Even though the path was icy, nobody slipped.
despite	a noun, pronoun, or -ing form	Despite the ice, nobody slipped.
in spite of	a noun, pronoun, or -ing form	In spite of the ice, nobody slipped.
despite / in spite of the fact that	a clause, after the extra the fact that	Despite the fact that it was icy, nobody slipped.
though (informal cousin)	a clause, or at the end of a sentence	Though it was icy, nobody slipped. Nobody slipped, though.

Common Although, Even Though, Despite, In Spite Of Examples in English

The same concession written four ways, then the patterns that learners mix. Every sentence is a real against-expectation pair:

Although and Even Though plus a Clause

Although the rehearsal overran, we still caught the last crossing.: clause after although, result in the main clause
Even though the tide was out, they launched the dinghy.: even though flags a stronger clash
We kept the café open, although the scaffolding blocked the door.: although clause second, comma before it
She played the encore even though her wrist had swollen.: no comma before even though in mid-sentence

A comma follows the although-clause when it comes first. When it comes second, a comma is common with although and less common with even though in a tight pair.

Despite and In Spite Of plus a Noun

Despite the delay, the dinghy was still tied up.: despite plus a noun, no verb after it
In spite of the drizzle, the quarry path stayed open.: in spite of plus a noun phrase
Despite that, the trustees signed the lease.: despite plus the pronoun that
The kiln fired on time in spite of the power cut.: in spite of mid-sentence, same noun rule

In spite of is three words and means the same as despite. Choose one and stay with it in a paragraph; switching is only a style choice, not a meaning change.

Despite / In Spite Of plus -ing

Despite feeling dizzy, she finished the set.: -ing names the awkward fact
In spite of the fog over the viaduct, he kept the same heading.: noun phrase after in spite of, not a finite clause
Despite being warned, they stacked the chairs on the wet tiles.: being plus past participle
In spite of not sleeping, he still made the dawn ferry.: not sits before the -ing form

The -ing form has no tense of its own. Time comes from the main clause: Despite feeling dizzy, she finished (past) vs. Despite feeling dizzy, she always finishes (habit).

Same Meaning, Four Shapes

Although the glaze was still tacky, she packed the bowls.: conjunction plus clause
Even though the glaze was still tacky, she packed the bowls.: stronger conjunction, same clause
Despite the tacky glaze, she packed the bowls.: preposition plus noun phrase
In spite of the glaze being tacky, she packed the bowls.: in spite of plus a small -ing clause

Rewrite a clause as a noun before you reach for despite: the rehearsal overran becomes the overrun, the delay, or the rehearsal overrunning.

How These Four Markers Work

One meaning, two grammatical slots, and a rescue pattern when you already have a clause.

Although and Even Though Take a Finite Clause

After although or even though you need a subject and a tensed verb: although she was exhausted, even though the tide was out. There is no that after them in this use (although that she was tired is wrong). The although-clause is subordinate; the result sits in the main clause and can come first or second.

Although the scores were still wet, we laid them on the stands.

subject the scores plus were, then the result

Although / even though + subject + verb.

Despite and In Spite Of Take a Noun or -ing

These are prepositions. What follows is a noun phrase (despite the scaffolding), a pronoun (despite that), or an -ing form (despite feeling dizzy). A finite clause cannot follow them directly. In spite of is a three-word preposition with the same meaning; despite of is a common error and is never correct.

Despite the scaffolding, the café stayed open.

a noun phrase, no finite verb after despite

Despite / in spite of + noun or -ing.

Even Though Strengthens Although

Even though marks a bigger clash between the two facts. Even although is not standard. Though on its own is a lighter although and can also sit at the end of a sentence in speech. Even though cannot sit at the end in that way.

Even though the ferry was cancelled, they hired a skipper.

the cancellation makes the hiring more surprising

Even though = a stronger although.

The Fact That Rescues a Clause after Despite

If you already have a clause and you still want despite or in spite of, add the fact that: despite the fact that the rehearsal overran. The extra noun fact gives the preposition something to govern, and that introduces the clause. It is correct and a little heavy; although is usually cleaner.

Despite the fact that the kiln was cooling, she opened the door.

the fact that turns a clause into a noun phrase

Need a clause after despite? Add the fact that.

Comma When the Marker Comes First

A concessive phrase or clause at the start of the sentence is followed by a comma: Although it was late, we stayed. Despite the hour, we stayed. When the marker comes second, a comma before although is common; before despite it is less necessary if the phrase is short.

In spite of the drizzle, the quarry path stayed open.

opening phrase, then comma, then main clause

Fronted concession takes a comma.

Common Mistakes with Although, Even Though, Despite, In Spite Of

Incorrect: Despite the rehearsal overran, we caught the ferry.

Correct: Although the rehearsal overran, we caught the ferry.

Despite cannot be followed by a finite clause. Either keep the clause and use although (or even though), or recast the clause as a noun: Despite the overrun, we caught the ferry.

Incorrect: Although the heavy rain.

Correct: Despite the heavy rain.

Although needs a subject and a verb (Although it rained heavily). A noun phrase after the marker wants despite or in spite of.

Incorrect: Despite of the scaffolding, the café stayed open.

Correct: Despite the scaffolding, the café stayed open.

Despite never takes of. The of belongs only to in spite of. The other correct version is In spite of the scaffolding, the café stayed open.

Incorrect: Even although the tide was out, they launched.

Correct: Even though the tide was out, they launched.

The stronger conjunction is even though, a fixed pair. Even although is not standard. Although without even is also correct if you do not need the extra force.

Despite the Fact That, and Even Though vs Although

The rescue pattern, the strength difference, and the one extra word that ruins despite.

Despite / in spite of the fact that

Add the fact that when you want the preposition but still have a clause. The pattern is correct, formal, and often replaceable by although.

Despite the fact that the glaze was tacky, she packed the bowls.: clause rescued by the fact that
In spite of the fact that the annex has no lift, they rented it.: same rescue with in spite of
Although the glaze was tacky, she packed the bowls.: the lighter rewrite, usually better

Despite of the fact that adds a stray of and is wrong. Only in spite of contains of.

Even though is not even although

Even though is the fixed stronger form. Even although is not used in standard English. Though can stand alone; even though cannot be split.

Even though the tickets had sold out, they opened a second preview.: fixed pair, not even although
The tickets had sold out, though.: though at the end, informal
Though the tickets had sold out, they opened a second preview.: though as a lighter although

Even if is a different marker: it introduces a condition you are willing to treat as possible, not a known fact. Even though treats the first clause as true.

Despite of never occurs

Despite takes no of. In spite of always includes of. Mixing them (despite of, in spite) is the most frequent written error with this set.

Despite the warning, they stacked the chairs on wet tiles.: despite, no of
In spite of the warning, they stacked the chairs on wet tiles.: in spite of, with of
Despite being warned, they stacked the chairs on wet tiles.: despite plus -ing, still no of

If of feels necessary, you have reached for the wrong marker: switch to in spite of, or drop of and keep despite.

Quick Check: Although, Even Though, Despite, In Spite Of

Rewrite or complete each sentence with although, even though, despite, or in spite of.

1. ___ the scaffolding, the café stayed open.

Answer: Despite / In spite of

a noun phrase follows, so a preposition

2. ___ the tide was out, they launched the dinghy.

Answer: Although / Even though

a finite clause follows, so a conjunction

3. She finished the set ___ feeling dizzy.

Answer: despite / in spite of

-ing form after a preposition

4. ___ the fact that the kiln was cooling, she opened the door.