Grammar- Although/ Though / Despite / In Spite of

As conjunctions, although and though are interchangeable. Although is generally considered more formal than though, though both forms appear regularly in both formal and informal writing. 

Examples:

In these examples, although and though are the same:

·         Growth in Europe is maintaining momentum, though the risks related to peripheral economies have increased. [Globe and Mail]

·         Although the birds are just a small part of his business, carefully raising the pheasants from delicate eggs to beautifully feathered birds is clearly a passion. [The Age]

After although/though we use a subject + verb:

·          Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.

·          I didn't get the job although I had all the necessary qualifications.

 Though is also an adverb meaning however or nevertheless. In this sense, though is not interchangeable with although, which is only a conjunction.

In these examples, though is an adverb and hence not interchangeable with although:

·         People are spending less on entertainment.  This weekend, though, theaters were packed. [Los Angeles Times]

·         There was another twist to come, though, as Pavlyuchenkova defied her flagging fortunes to win three games in succession. [Independent]

In spite of and despite in meaning are basically the same.  After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc.) or -ing:

.

·         I didn't get the job in spite of having all the necessary qualifications.

Compare although and in spite of / despite:

·         Although the traffic was bad. I arrived on time. (not in spite of the traffic was bad)

·         In spite of the traffic, I arrived on time. (not in spite of the traffic was bad)

·         I couldn’t sleep although I was very tired (not despite I was tired)

·         I couldn’t sleep despite being very tired (not despite I was tired)