Cool MateDespite vs No matter how gentlemanly the fellow
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Despite
Top 1,000 (very common)B1preposition
No matter how gentlemanly the fellow
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Despite
| Despite | No matter how gentlemanly the fellow | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈspaɪt//🇺🇸 //dɪˈspaɪt// | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ ˈmætə haʊ ˈdʒɛntəlmənli ðə ˈfɛləʊ//🇺🇸 //noʊ ˈmætər haʊ ˈdʒɛntəlməˌnli ðə ˈfɛloʊ// |
| Meaning | In spite of something. | It doesn't matter how polite this man is. |
| Example | She completed the marathon despite the harsh weather. | No matter how gentlemanly the fellow, he still made some unwise decisions. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | despite the challenges, despite the risks, despite the noise | no matter what, gentlemanly behavior, fellow traveler |
| Antonyms | because of, due to | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'despite' with 'although', Using 'despite' before a clause instead of a noun or gerund, Incorrectly using 'despite' without a following noun or gerund | Confusing 'fellow' with 'man' or 'boy' which can imply different ages., Using 'no matter' incorrectly with incomplete sentences., Mixing 'gentlemanly' with informal synonyms, losing the nuance of politeness. |
| Usage notes | Use 'despite' to show contrast between two ideas. It's more formal than 'in spite of'. | This phrase is often used to emphasize that something will remain true regardless of other factors. It's suitable for both spoken and written English, but can sound slightly formal when used in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Despite vs No matter how gentlemanly the fellow
What's the difference between Despite and No matter how gentlemanly the fellow?
Despite: In spite of something. No matter how gentlemanly the fellow: It doesn't matter how polite this man is.
Which is more common: Despite and No matter how gentlemanly the fellow?
Despite is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Despite: She completed the marathon despite the harsh weather. No matter how gentlemanly the fellow: No matter how gentlemanly the fellow, he still made some unwise decisions.
Can I use Despite and No matter how gentlemanly the fellow interchangeably?
Not always. Despite and No matter how gentlemanly the fellow are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.