In Spite of vs. Though

Attribute	In Spite of	Though
Usage	Preposition	Conjunction
Meaning	Despite	However
Position in sentence	Precedes a noun or noun phrase	Introduces a clause
Formality	Formal	Informal

Definition

Both "in spite of" and "though" are conjunctions that are used to introduce contrasting ideas in a sentence. However, they are used in slightly different ways and have different nuances in meaning.

Usage of "In Spite of"

"In spite of" is used to introduce a contrasting idea or condition that goes against what is expected. It is often used to show that something happened or is true despite certain obstacles or challenges. For example, "In spite of the rain, we decided to go for a walk." In this sentence, the rain is the obstacle, but the speaker still decided to go for a walk.

Usage of "Though"

"Though" is also used to introduce a contrasting idea, but it is more commonly used to introduce a concession or a fact that is contrary to what has been said before. It is often used to show a contrast between two ideas or to introduce a surprising or unexpected fact. For example, "She decided to go for a walk, though it was raining." In this sentence, the fact that it was raining is contrary to the decision to go for a walk.

Position in a Sentence

One key difference between "in spite of" and "though" is their position in a sentence. "In spite of" is typically used at the beginning of a sentence or clause, followed by a noun or noun phrase. For example, "In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time." On the other hand, "though" can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, and is often followed by a verb or adjective. For example, "She decided to go for a walk, though it was raining."

Formality

Another difference between "in spite of" and "though" is their level of formality. "In spite of" is considered more formal and is often used in written English or formal speech. It is less commonly used in casual conversation. On the other hand, "though" is more informal and is commonly used in both spoken and written English. It is often used in everyday conversation to introduce a contrasting idea or to show a concession.

Emphasis

When it comes to emphasis, "in spite of" tends to place more emphasis on the contrast between the two ideas. It highlights the fact that something happened or is true despite certain obstacles or challenges. On the other hand, "though" is more subtle in its emphasis and is often used to introduce a contrasting idea without placing as much emphasis on the contrast.

Examples

• "In spite of the storm, the picnic went ahead as planned."
• "Though it was late, he still decided to go for a run."
• "In spite of his busy schedule, he managed to find time for his family."
• "She decided to go for a walk, though it was getting dark."

Conclusion

While both "in spite of" and "though" are used to introduce contrasting ideas in a sentence, they have different nuances in meaning, usage, position in a sentence, formality, and emphasis. Understanding these differences can help you use them effectively in your writing and communication to convey your ideas clearly and accurately.