Gee, Joe,
I got 1.7 million hits for offshoot but 35.5 million for offspring....! Whose side are you on?
I chose “offshoot” but I would be as comfortable using “offspring” in perhaps a slightly different context.
My
Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary defines “offshoot” as follows:
1 a : a collateral or derived branch, descendant, or member : OUTGROWTH b : a lateral branch (as of a mountain range)
2 : a branch of a main stem especially of a plant
And “offspring” as follows:
1 a : the product of the reproductive processes of an animal or plant : YOUNG, PROGENY b : CHILD
2 a : PRODUCT, RESULT *scholarly manuscripts*the labored offsprings of PhDs — Donna Martin* b : OFFSHOOT 1a
Now that I have actually looked up the meaning of both words, though, I have become even more comfortable with my choice of “offshoot.” I think the semantics of “offshoot” is right on target for that particular sentence, and that of “offspring” slightly off—Google’s scorecard notwithstanding. Don’t you agree, Max?