student asking question

What's "don't take it personally"? and how's it different from "no offense"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Don't take it personally" means "do not be offended by what (someone) is saying". "No offense" has the same meaning, except it can only apply to what the speaker is saying. "Don't take it personally" and "no offense" have different nuances. "Don't take it personally" shows genuine concern, while "no offense" usually introduces a really rude statement. Ex: Don't take it personally that your girlfriend broke up with you, it's not your fault. Ex: No offense, but your hair looks really bad today.

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