No offence means 'I don't mean to upset you'. Before a remark (No offence, but I'd rather choose the colour myself) it warns that something unwelcome is coming, and the listener tenses up. After a remark (I meant the layout, not your work — no offence intended) it works as a repair: 'I didn't mean to hurt you'. American spelling: offense.
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No offence, but ...; no offence intended; US no offense
- No offence, but I'd rather choose the colour myself.
- I meant the layout, not your work — no offence intended.
- No offense, but I don't think this room is large enough for the group.
What changed
First versionNo offend intended — I was talking about the schedule.
RevisionNo offence intended — I was talking about the schedule.
The idea is 'I don't want to offend', so the verb offend slips in: no offend. But after no you need a noun: no offence. Americans write offense, and both spellings are correct.
No hard feelings is said after an argument or a refusal: 'I don't hold it against you'. 'Sorry I couldn't come.' 'No hard feelings.' No offence is about your own words: 'I don't want to hurt you'. As a reply to someone's apology, no offence doesn't work.
Your turn
Choose the noun in the expression: No ___ intended; I only meant that the room is small.
Show the answer
offence — After no you need the noun offence. Offend is a verb, and it doesn't fit into the fixed phrase.
Your friend picked a noisy café for your meeting. Suggest another place in one sentence with no offence.
No offence, but I think a quieter café would work better for our meeting.
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