"Notwithstanding" as Formal Concession in Technical English
5 exercises — practise the formal concessive preposition "notwithstanding" in specs and governance docs.
0 / 20 completed
1 / 20
Which sentence correctly uses "notwithstanding" before a noun phrase to mean "despite"?
"Notwithstanding the failed health check, the deployment proceeded automatically" is correct: "notwithstanding" functions as a preposition meaning "despite", taking a noun phrase directly, with no extra linking word. Option B incorrectly inserts "of". Option C misuses "that" as if a clause were expected without the required verb, but even so "that" isn't paired with a bare noun phrase here. Option D wrongly places "notwithstanding" as an adjective before the noun.
2 / 20
Choose the sentence that correctly places "notwithstanding" after the noun phrase (a valid, more formal legal/technical-document style).
"This clause, the rollback policy notwithstanding, still requires manual sign-off" is correct: "notwithstanding" can follow its noun phrase, a pattern common in formal contracts and governance documents. Option B places it in the standard pre-noun position, which is also valid grammatically but doesn't match what the question asks for (post-position). Option C redundantly adds "that" after the noun phrase. Option D incorrectly inserts "of" in the post-position pattern.
3 / 20
Select the sentence that correctly uses "notwithstanding that" to introduce a full concessive clause.
"Notwithstanding that the migration passed all tests, the team scheduled a rollback window" is correct: "notwithstanding that" introduces a full finite clause, a formal alternative to "although". Option B omits "that", leaving "notwithstanding" incorrectly followed by a full clause as if it were a bare preposition. Option C uses the ungrammatical gerund "passing" instead of the finite verb. Option D redundantly inserts "of" before "that".
4 / 20
Which sentence correctly uses "notwithstanding" in a governance policy stating an exception still applies despite a general rule?
"...notwithstanding requests tagged as high-risk" is correct: "notwithstanding" takes the noun phrase "requests tagged as high-risk" directly, meaning those requests are an exception. Option B incorrectly adds "that" before a noun phrase without a following verb. Option C wrongly inserts "for". Option D misplaces "notwithstanding" inside the noun phrase, breaking its structure.
5 / 20
Choose the sentence that correctly distinguishes formal "notwithstanding" from the more common "despite"/"in spite of" in a compliance document.
"Notwithstanding the vendor's certification, the audit team independently verified the encryption settings" is correct: "notwithstanding" alone, directly before the noun phrase, is the correct formal equivalent of "despite"/"in spite of". Option B incorrectly adds "of". Option C redundantly stacks "despite" and "notwithstanding" together. Option D adds an unnecessary "that" after the post-positioned noun phrase.
6 / 20
Code Review Comment: 'The server response indicates a 500 error, notwithstanding the successful completion of the database query.' Which word best clarifies the situation in this comment?
Here, 'notwithstanding' signals that a seemingly positive outcome (successful query) doesn't negate an actual problem (500 error). The key is recognizing it's a concession; even though one thing happened, another undesirable event occurred. Option A misinterprets 'notwithstanding' as a cause; options C and D are grammatically incorrect in this context.
7 / 20
PR Description: 'The API endpoint now supports version 2.0 functionality, notwithstanding the deprecated features remaining available for backward compatibility.' What is the primary function of this phrase?
'Notwithstanding' here indicates a partial concession. The API supports *new* version 2.0 while still providing access to *older* versions. Options A and C misrepresent the scope of support. Option B is incorrect – the phrase clearly states that newer features exist alongside older ones.
8 / 20
Code Review Comment: 'The code adheres to the security guidelines, notwithstanding the lack of formal vulnerability scanning.' Which best describes the comment's intent?
'Notwithstanding' signifies a concession – security standards are being followed *despite* the lack of a standard vulnerability scan. It doesn't imply the scans are worthless (option A) or that an immediate audit is necessary (option D). The comment focuses on adherence to guidelines regardless of the tooling used.
9 / 20
Code Review Comment: 'The server response indicates a 500 error, notwithstanding the successful completion of the database query.' Which word best clarifies the situation in this comment?
Here, 'notwithstanding' signals that a seemingly positive outcome (successful query) doesn't negate an actual problem (500 error). The key is recognizing it's a concession; even though one thing happened, another undesirable event occurred. Option A misinterprets 'notwithstanding' as a cause; options C and D are grammatically incorrect in this context.
10 / 20
PR Description: 'The API endpoint now supports version 2.0 functionality, notwithstanding the deprecated features remaining available for backward compatibility.' What is the primary function of this phrase?
'Notwithstanding' here indicates a partial concession. The API supports *new* version 2.0 while still providing access to *older* versions. Options A and C misrepresent the scope of support. Option B is incorrect – the phrase clearly states that newer features exist alongside older ones.
11 / 20
Code Review Comment: 'The code adheres to the security guidelines, notwithstanding the lack of formal vulnerability scanning.' Which best describes the comment's intent?
'Notwithstanding' signifies a concession – security standards are being followed *despite* the lack of a standard vulnerability scan. It doesn't imply the scans are worthless (option A) or that an immediate audit is necessary (option D). The comment focuses on adherence to guidelines regardless of the tooling used.
12 / 20
Code Review Comment: 'The server response indicates a 500 error, notwithstanding the successful completion of the database query.' Which word best clarifies the situation in this comment?
Here, 'notwithstanding' signals that a seemingly positive outcome (successful query) doesn't negate an actual problem (500 error). The key is recognizing it's a concession; even though one thing happened, another undesirable event occurred. Option A misinterprets 'notwithstanding' as a cause; options C and D are grammatically incorrect in this context.
13 / 20
PR Description: 'The API endpoint now supports version 2.0 functionality, notwithstanding the deprecated features remaining available for backward compatibility.' What is the primary function of this phrase?
'Notwithstanding' here indicates a partial concession. The API supports *new* version 2.0 while still providing access to *older* versions. Options A and C misrepresent the scope of support. Option B is incorrect – the phrase clearly states that newer features exist alongside older ones.
14 / 20
Code Review Comment: 'The code adheres to the security guidelines, notwithstanding the lack of formal vulnerability scanning.' Which best describes the comment's intent?
'Notwithstanding' signifies a concession – security standards are being followed *despite* the lack of a standard vulnerability scan. It doesn't imply the scans are worthless (option A) or that an immediate audit is necessary (option D). The comment focuses on adherence to guidelines regardless of the tooling used.
15 / 20
Reviewer Alex comments: 'The build succeeded, notwithstanding the reported memory leak.' Which of the following best explains Alex's intent?
'Notwithstanding' here establishes a concession – something might be true *despite* another fact*. Alex isn't simply stating there's a problem; they are emphasizing that the successful build doesn't negate the serious concern of a memory leak. Option A is incorrect because it downplays the severity, and options B & D misinterpret the forceful nature of 'notwithstanding'.
16 / 20
PR Description: 'The database schema was updated to support the new reporting requirements, notwithstanding that the existing queries will continue to function.' What is the key purpose of using 'notwithstanding' in this description?
'Notwithstanding' here signals a concession – the new schema exists *despite* the fact that older queries remain functional. The description is managing expectations and pointing out a key limitation or ongoing dependency. It's crucial for developers understanding the scope of the change.
17 / 20
During the daily stand-up, Mark says: 'I finished implementing the user profile API, notwithstanding that we're still awaiting final approval on the data validation rules.' What does Mark's statement suggest?
'Notwithstanding' indicates a concession – Mark finished the API *despite* the fact that the data validation rules aren't yet finalized. This implies his work is complete but contingent on another process; it suggests potential delays or dependencies are acknowledged but not causing him to halt progress. Option A is too definitive.
18 / 20
Reviewer Sarah comments: 'The authentication flow is implemented using OAuth 2.0, notwithstanding the team's previous preference for JWT.' Which of the following best explains Sarah's intent?
Sarah's comment acknowledges that OAuth 2.0 is being used despite a prior preference for JWT. This indicates she recognizes a difference in approach but doesn't necessarily express disapproval – it's a concession of a previous decision. The correct interpretation is that she's raising a potential security concern, given the shift.
19 / 20
As a Senior Engineer, you're reviewing a PR that introduces a new logging mechanism. The developer writes: 'The application now logs all API requests, notwithstanding the existing rate limiting policy.' What does 'notwithstanding' primarily convey in this context?
'Notwithstanding' indicates a concession – something *despite* another condition. Here, it clarifies that the logging is allowed even though a rate limit exists. Option B is incorrect because 'notwithstanding' doesn't imply complete override; options C and D misinterpret its function as restricting logging or creating an independent system.
20 / 20
In a code review comment for a new microservice, Developer David writes: 'The service adheres to the API documentation, notwithstanding its limited support for older versions.' What is the main purpose of using 'notwithstanding' in this statement?
'Notwithstanding' here indicates a concession – the service meets requirements *despite* limitations. Option A is too strong; C suggests an action, and D offers an unrelated benefit. The correct answer focuses on acknowledging a difference while maintaining compliance.
What will I practise in ""Notwithstanding" as Formal Concession — IT Grammar Exercise"?
Practise the formal concessive preposition "notwithstanding" (before or after a noun phrase) and "notwithstanding that" for full clauses, in specifications
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 20 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
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Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.