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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Offence and offense
I was sending an email to a German associate. In the email I posted "no offence"
He replied "no offense".
Now, I had previously believed, that in AME, offence and offense were used differently, with offence meaning "to be offended by"
and offense tending to signify the mighty St. Louis Rams.
I surfed over to the American Heritage Dictionary. Much to my surprise, it simply lists offence* as a British variant of *offense.
What are these modern lexicographers doing to my language?
Joanne
--
"None of us have lived the life we intended." Joseph Campbell
He replied "no offense".
Now, I had previously believed, that in AME, offence and offense were used differently, with offence meaning "to be offended by"
and offense tending to signify the mighty St. Louis Rams.
I surfed over to the American Heritage Dictionary. Much to my surprise, it simply lists offence* as a British variant of *offense.
What are these modern lexicographers doing to my language?
Joanne
--
"None of us have lived the life we intended." Joseph Campbell
Top answer
In article , Joanne Marinelli (Email Removed) writes [nq:1]I was sending an email to a German associate. In the email I posted "no offence" He replied "no offense". a British variant of offense .
- In article , Joanne Marinelli (Email Removed) writes [nq:1]I was sending an email to a German associate.
- In the email I posted "no offence" He replied "no offense".
- a British variant of offense .
- [/nq] Oy!
- 'Ands orf!!
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25 Answers
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In article , Joanne Marinelli (Email Removed) writes
[nq:1]I was sending an email to a German associate. In the email I posted "no offence" He replied "no offense". ... a British variant of offense. What are these modern lexicographers doing to my language?[/nq]
Oy! 'Ands orf!! 'Tain't yourn, 'smine!!!
-- Dave
[nq:1]I was sending an email to a German associate. In the email I posted "no offence" He replied "no offense". ... a British variant of offense. What are these modern lexicographers doing to my language?[/nq]
Oy! 'Ands orf!! 'Tain't yourn, 'smine!!!
-- Dave
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(Email Removed) spake thus:
[nq:1]I was sending an email to a German associate. In the email I posted "no offence" He replied "no offense". ... surprise, it simply lists offence* as a British variant of *offense. What are these modern lexicographers doing to my language?[/nq]
The lexicographer is right. It's my experience that US English doesn't use "offence" at all. I suspect that
[nq:1]I was sending an email to a German associate. In the email I posted "no offence" He replied "no offense". ... surprise, it simply lists offence* as a British variant of *offense. What are these modern lexicographers doing to my language?[/nq]
The lexicographer is right. It's my experience that US English doesn't use "offence" at all. I suspect that
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Hi,
Easy way to remember is using
advice - the stuff you receive (a noun) advise - the act of giving the stuff (a verb)
Therefore you have a driving licence, doctor's practise medicine, etc.
Easy peasy.
I hope that this helps.
Regards,
Kevin Stone
Easy way to remember is using
advice - the stuff you receive (a noun) advise - the act of giving the stuff (a verb)
Therefore you have a driving licence, doctor's practise medicine, etc.
Easy peasy.
I hope that this helps.
Regards,
Kevin Stone
UK English Speaker (expert(ish))
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[nq:2]doctor's practise medicine[/nq]
Should read:
doctors practise medicine
!
Call myself an expert(ish)?!
Should read:
doctors practise medicine
!
Call myself an expert(ish)?!
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[nq:1]Should read: doctors practise medicine ! Call myself an expert(ish)?![/nq]
You're getting good at narrowly dodging firing squads.
-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mw
You're getting good at narrowly dodging firing squads.
-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mw
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[nq:1](Email Removed) spake thus: The lexicographer is right. It's my experience that US English doesn't use "offence" at all. I ... line for a spelling error. -- David[/nq]
==Okay, but I did not create the apparently fictional distinction on my own..
Joanne
==Okay, but I did not create the apparently fictional distinction on my own..
Joanne
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[nq:1]Hi, Easy way to remember is using advice - the stuff you receive (a noun) advise - the act of giving the stuff (a verb)-- What?[/nq]
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On 14 Oct 2003, Joanne Marinelli posted thus:
[nq:1]Okay, but I did not create the apparently fictional distinction on my own..[/nq]
I'm afraid you did. Offence and defence -- strictly British.
-- Dena Jo
(Email: Replace TPUBGTH with denajo2)
[nq:1]Okay, but I did not create the apparently fictional distinction on my own..[/nq]
I'm afraid you did. Offence and defence -- strictly British.
-- Dena Jo
(Email: Replace TPUBGTH with denajo2)
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[nq:1]On 14 Oct 2003, Joanne Marinelli posted thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Okay, but I did not create the apparently fictional distinction on my own..[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm afraid you did. Offence and defence -- strictly British. -- Dena Jo[/nq]
Nope. Someone, or something, taught me to split the difference.
[nq:2]Okay, but I did not create the apparently fictional distinction on my own..[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm afraid you did. Offence and defence -- strictly British. -- Dena Jo[/nq]
Nope. Someone, or something, taught me to split the difference.
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[nq:2]Hi, Easy way to remember is using advice - the stuff you receive (a noun) advise - the act of giving the stuff (a verb)[/nq]
[nq:1]-- What?[/nq]
Wake up. In English (as opposed to US English), the verb form of several words ends "se", whilst the noun form of the same words ends "ce". 'Offence' is a noun; 'offense' would be a verb, if anyone used it so.
-- Mark Wallace -- Fo
[nq:1]-- What?[/nq]
Wake up. In English (as opposed to US English), the verb form of several words ends "se", whilst the noun form of the same words ends "ce". 'Offence' is a noun; 'offense' would be a verb, if anyone used it so.
-- Mark Wallace -- Fo
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