The spelling of the word "touching offs" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The first word "touching" is pronounced /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/ with the stress on the first syllable. The second word "offs" is pronounced /ɒfs/ with a short vowel sound and no stress. Together, these two words form a phrasal verb that means to cause something to start, such as touching off a fight or an explosion. It is important to be familiar with the correct spelling and pronunciation of such phrases to avoid confusion in communication.