what are differences of despite and in spite of

论语气,despite比in spite of谨严,但意思没有分别,都可译做“虽然”或“不顾”, In spite of或despite之后必须用名词或动名词,不能接普通子句,例如不可说“Despite the public is getting increasingly discontented”,只能说“Despite the fact that the public is getting increasingly discontented”