Correct spelling?

Question

I'm putting up a dress code policy at work and I don't know which is the correct spelling.

First offense - VERBAL WARNING

First offence - VERBAL WARNING

I'm pretty sure it's offense but in our handbook it's printed with offence. Ty in advance.

Answer 1

Either is fine, but offense if the common spelling.

Answer 2

Technically, they are both correct. I'd go with offense, though... I think it's the more common of the two. Here's the dictionary entry:

Main Entry: of·fense
Variant(s): or of·fence \ə-ˈfen(t)s, especially for 3 ˈä-ˌfen(t)s, ˈȯ-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin offensa, from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere
Date: 14th century
1 aobsolete : an act of stumbling barchaic : a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block
2: something that outrages the moral or physical senses
3 a: the act of attacking : assault b: the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score c: the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions d: scoring ability
4 a: the act of displeasing or affronting b: the state of being insulted or morally outraged
5 a: a breach of a moral or social code : sin, misdeed b: an infraction of law; especially : misdemeanor
— of·fense·less \-ləs\ adjective

Answer 3

dictionary.com
I looked up both ways. If you read down far enough on both of them they are both correct. At the bottom of offense, it says: also offence. At the bottom of offence, it says: also offense. So both are correct. For the most part I've seen offense used more.

Answer 4

I thought is was OFFENSE too so I looked up OFFENCE in DICTIONARY.COM and it appears that both may be correct, although for OFFENCE it just said see OFFENSE and under that there were 9 definitions. Hope that helps.

Kiki Ramone

Answer 5

First offense - VERBAL WARNING

other might be British spelling

Answer 6

offense is correct, but the dictionary also has offence. I guess either one is correct.

Answer 7

It's actually both. A rare case in English where a word can be spelled either way. It's up to you!

Answer 8

It is offense. Offen(c)e is a british variant. You we're right. Most people are right the first time around....

Answer 9

The answer is First offense. =)

Answer 10

I know in Europe it is done - offense.