Learn English – Usage “in spite of” and “despite of”

differencephrase-usage

What are the difference between these two prepositions: "despite of" and "in spite of"?

And what is the general usage of this two: choose in different situation, followed by etc.

Best Answer

The only difference between in spite of and despite is the ‘of’.

You don't use "Despite of the reason". You use "Despite the reason"

Despite the pain in his leg he completed the marathon.

It seems to me "in spite of" is a slightly more elaborate form, to be used in more fancy, most formal writing. "Despite" is not informal but not quite that elaborate.

edit: as mcalex mentions, "Despite of" (and even "In despite of") is not incorrect, it's just an almost dead archaic form.