Despite 是 Task 2 的安全字——大家都會。但如果你想讓考官多看一眼，試試 notwithstanding。風險：用錯位置反而扣分。本篇教你只在這個句型用一次。
字義
Notwithstanding (prep. / adv.) — in spite of; despite; nevertheless. A formal, somewhat literary alternative to despite.
意思跟 despite 一樣——但書面感更重、更學術。
5 個 Band 7+ 例句
- Notwithstanding the recent reforms, the system remains deeply inefficient.
- The team won the championship, notwithstanding several key injuries.
- Notwithstanding considerable opposition, the bill was passed last week.
- Critics remain unconvinced; the government's claims notwithstanding.
- Notwithstanding her age, she completed the marathon in under four hours.
常見錯誤
句型一（最安全）：***Notwithstanding* + 名詞片語，放句首——這是最常用、最不會出錯的**。
- Notwithstanding the cost, the project went ahead. ✓
句型二（後置，略文謅）：**名詞片語 + *notwithstanding***——更文學，但仍然合法。
- The cost notwithstanding, the project went ahead. ✓
禁忌：別寫 notwithstanding that + 子句——文法雖正確但極其老派，IELTS 考官會皺眉。
Register 注意：***Notwithstanding* 是非常書面的字——Speaking 千萬別用，會像在念維多利亞時代小說。Task 2 一篇用一次**最有效。
同等級替換（Band 7+）
- Despite — Despite the cost, the project went ahead.（最安全的萬用字）
- In spite of — In spite of the cost, the project went ahead.
試試看
下次 Task 2，只在引言或結論用一次 notwithstanding——別超過。例如：Notwithstanding these concerns, the policy has clear long-term benefits. 一個字告訴考官你語感成熟。
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