Understanding the correct use of commas with the word “despite” can enhance the clarity and flow of your writing. “Despite” is a preposition that introduces a contrast or exception, and its punctuation can sometimes be confusing.
This guide provides clear rules and examples to help you use “despite” correctly in your sentences.
When to Use a Comma with “Despite”
Rule 1: Beginning of a Sentence
Correct Usage:
- Despite the rain, the game continued.
- Despite her fears, she delivered an excellent speech.
Incorrect Usage:
- Despite, the rain the game continued.
- Despite, her fears she delivered an excellent speech.
Explanation: When “despite” begins a sentence, it is followed by a noun or a pronoun and does not require a comma immediately after it. However, a comma should separate the introductory phrase from the main clause.
Rule 2: Middle of a Sentence
Correct Usage:
- The game continued, despite the rain.
- She delivered an excellent speech, despite her fears.
Incorrect Usage:
- The game continued despite, the rain.
- She delivered an excellent speech despite, her fears.
Explanation: When “despite” is used in the middle of a sentence to introduce a non-essential clause, it is not preceded by a comma, but the clause itself is often followed by a comma if it’s non-essential or adds extra information.
Rule 3: No Comma for Essential Information
Correct Usage:
- The team won despite having three key players injured.
- She enjoyed the trip despite the bad weather.
Incorrect Usage:
- The team won, despite having three key players injured.
- She enjoyed the trip, despite the bad weather.
Explanation: When the information introduced by “despite” is essential to the meaning of the sentence, do not separate it with a comma.
Rule 4: Before “Despite” in Compound Sentences
Correct Usage:
- It was raining, but despite that, the game continued.
- She was nervous, yet despite that, she delivered an excellent speech.
Incorrect Usage:
- It was raining but, despite that, the game continued.
- She was nervous yet, despite that, she delivered an excellent speech.
Explanation: In compound sentences, use a comma before “but” or “yet” when they precede “despite.” The phrase introduced by “despite” is set off by commas as it adds non-essential information.
Rule 5: “Despite” in the End Position
Correct Usage:
- The game continued despite the rain.
- She delivered an excellent speech despite her fears.
Incorrect Usage:
- The game continued, despite the rain.
- She delivered an excellent speech, despite her fears.
Explanation: When “despite” and its phrase conclude the sentence, they typically do not require a comma before “despite” because the information is directly related to the main clause.
Rule 6: “Despite” with Appositives
Correct Usage:
- Despite the weather, which was rainy, the game continued.
- Despite her fears, which were significant, she delivered an excellent speech.
Incorrect Usage:
- Despite the weather which was rainy, the game continued.
- Despite her fears which were significant, she delivered an excellent speech.
Explanation: When “despite” introduces a phrase that includes an appositive—a noun or noun phrase that renames or explains another noun—a comma is used to set off the appositive.
Read More: Me Too or Me, Too? (Comma Rules)
Rule 7: “Despite” and Parenthetical Elements
Correct Usage:
- The game, despite the rain, continued as planned.
- She, despite her fears, delivered an excellent speech.
Incorrect Usage:
- The game despite, the rain, continued as planned.
- She despite, her fears, delivered an excellent speech.
Explanation: When “despite” introduces a parenthetical element, a phrase that can be removed without changing the essential meaning of the sentence, it should be enclosed by commas.
Rule 8: “Despite” Without Direct Contrast
Correct Usage:
- They arrived on time despite leaving late.
- He succeeded despite the disadvantages.
Incorrect Usage:
- They arrived on time, despite leaving late.
- He succeeded, despite the disadvantages.
Explanation: When “despite” introduces information that is essential to the main clause’s action without setting up a direct contrast, no comma is needed.
Rule 9: “Despite” and Consecutive Clauses
Correct Usage:
- Despite the rain, they played well, and the team won.
- She delivered an excellent speech, despite her fears, and received applause.
Incorrect Usage:
- Despite the rain they played well, and the team won.
- She delivered an excellent speech despite her fears, and received applause.
Explanation: When “despite” introduces a clause at the beginning of a sentence followed by consecutive independent clauses, use a comma after the introductory phrase and before the conjunction joining the clauses.
Rule 10: Clarifying with “Despite”
Correct Usage:
- Despite what happened last time, they tried again.
- Despite the forecast, the weather was clear.
Incorrect Usage:
- Despite, what happened last time, they tried again.
- Despite, the forecast, the weather was clear.
Explanation: Use “despite” to introduce clarifying information without a comma immediately after it. The phrase that follows “despite” is essential and should not be separated by a comma.
