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Liveinjapan Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Offense / offensive

His remarks come as international criticism against Israel has mounted since it began its ground offensive in Gaza on Saturday.

Could 'offensive' be replaced with 'offense'?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Yes, it could. "Offence" seems to be a bit literary way of expressing "attack".

— Fandorin

  • Yes, it could.
  • "Offence" seems to be a bit literary way of expressing "attack".
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3 Answers
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Yes, it could. "Offence" seems to be a bit literary way of expressing "attack".
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"offensive" is being used as a noun here, in military context it means "an attack", assault or operation, whereas, as an adjective it would describe other nouns like "offensive language".
However, since this was quoted in military context, it is correct.
I presume historically, military nouns were used in conjunction with this adjective - e.g. “offensive strike” but have colloquially cha
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Thanks so much, Fandorin and Anon.
Got it!
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