offensive vs offending

Question

My friend and I have a disagreement.  He used the word "offending" as follows:  "Jack is so offending."  I think the proper word here is offensive.  Is his usage correct?

Forum_mail · Accepted Answer

hmm... aren't these two the same? I guess there's no difference... still, a native speaker's opinione would be most welcome...

ps. by the way - "would be most welcome(d) ? just like "would be most appreciated" ?

Nona the brit · Answer

You are right. Offending is a verb so incorrect in this context. Offensive is the correct word to use.

Anonymous · Answer

I agree with the previous post.

The explanation is the following:
Offending is refered to the thing or person who offends.
Offensive is an adjective.

For example...
My friend is offending me. He is offensive.

It's just the same in other cases: He is boring me. He is so bored.

BarbaraPA · Answer

No, not quite.

Bill is offending me. I find him offensive. I am offended by his offensive behavior, in which he is offending me.

Bill is boring me. I find him boring. I am bored with his boring talk as he shows once again how he can bore people without trying.

So - the person is is causing you boredom (you are bored) is boring you by being boring.

But the person who is causing you offense (you are offended) is offending you by being offensive.

offensive vs offending

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