This is often done as a sign of respect and in order to avoid giving offense.

Is this another book that will give offense, and to whom?

But he was fearful of giving offense, and said nothing.

At least you can tell me what I did to give offense.

But how to tell the girl's brother, without giving offense?

The difficulty was, how to approach the subject without giving offense.

He seems always to be trying too hard to please without giving offense.

Rather than give offense, I may keep my seat next time.

There is no danger of giving offense provided you don't move too close to them, or me.

Even so, they'd been well brought up and didn't want to give offense.