British vs. UK??
Discussion
The BBC are using the term UK as an adjective. As in UK population, electorate, shoppers. I reckon that they should be using the word British, as in British Broadcasting Corporation, British Army, British people.
I wrote to them and they replied, promptly to their credit, that the UK is GB & NI, so the word British would upset some people.
I told them that my passport says I am a British citizen and that applies to any passport holder in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, NI, etc. The good ole Beeb had no answer to that.
Are we British or UK-ish?
I wrote to them and they replied, promptly to their credit, that the UK is GB & NI, so the word British would upset some people.
I told them that my passport says I am a British citizen and that applies to any passport holder in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, NI, etc. The good ole Beeb had no answer to that.
Are we British or UK-ish?
dilbert said:
Strictly speaking we are the United Kingdom of Great Britain, but it's a bit of a mouthful.
We're "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Aren't we? Although it should probably be "The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Shetland Isles, and all the other bits that we didn't get round to giving back".kambites said:
dilbert said:
Strictly speaking we are the United Kingdom of Great Britain, but it's a bit of a mouthful.
We're "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Aren't we? Although it should probably be "The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Shetland Isles, and all the other bits that we didn't get round to giving back".
Well I suppose, but the thing is that I don't live in NI. If I did then I guess I'd from the "United Kingdom of Northern Ireland".
We are a United Kingdom at the moment. (As opposed to a Mighty British Empire. Geddit?)
I suppose it has an element of tragedy to it.
Edited by dilbert on Monday 17th November 12:12
NailedOn said:
The BBC are using the term UK as an adjective. As in UK population, electorate, shoppers. I reckon that they should be using the word British, as in British Broadcasting Corporation, British Army, British people.
I wrote to them and they replied, promptly to their credit, that the UK is GB & NI, so the word British would upset some people.
I told them that my passport says I am a British citizen and that applies to any passport holder in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, NI, etc. The good ole Beeb had no answer to that.
Are we British or UK-ish?
The full name is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", so shortening to UK makes most sense if you're including NI - IMHO.I wrote to them and they replied, promptly to their credit, that the UK is GB & NI, so the word British would upset some people.
I told them that my passport says I am a British citizen and that applies to any passport holder in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, NI, etc. The good ole Beeb had no answer to that.
Are we British or UK-ish?
I think you're being a bit pedantic to be honest.
BiggusLaddus said:
tinman0 said:
passport said:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
British = Great BritainUK = GB +NI
Los Angeles said:
I'm Scottish, and normally refer to "Britain" as the United Kingdom, even if, as now, it isn't quite united. Saying one is British means little to an outsider other than it evokes a wartime spirit; you need to be specific. Even the Isle of Man has its own identity, laws, and traditions!
Actually Scottish as in born there, or one of the 300 million 'Scotch-Americans' with surnames like 'Kowalski' who are definite they have 'scotch' blood? 
NailedOn said:
The BBC are using the term UK as an adjective. As in UK population, electorate, shoppers. I reckon that they should be using the word British, as in British Broadcasting Corporation, British Army, British people.
I wrote to them and they replied, promptly to their credit, that the UK is GB & NI, so the word British would upset some people.
I told them that my passport says I am a British citizen and that applies to any passport holder in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, NI, etc. The good ole Beeb had no answer to that.
Are we British or UK-ish?
TBH I think it's probably UKer's with a silent F.I wrote to them and they replied, promptly to their credit, that the UK is GB & NI, so the word British would upset some people.
I told them that my passport says I am a British citizen and that applies to any passport holder in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, NI, etc. The good ole Beeb had no answer to that.
Are we British or UK-ish?
BiggusLaddus said:
Why is British only for Great Britain and not for people from any of the other British Isles?
Because 5 million of us are Irish, not forgettinng the 1.5 million poor confused souls in NI who dont know what hey are.I am Irish, my better half is English. She would never describe herself as Britsh, she thinks the word has been abused and diluted. I would tend to agree with her.
BiggusLaddus said:
tinman0 said:
passport said:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
British = Great BritainUK = GB +NI
Reading up on it now and it does look like the source of a quite a few disputes. Who knew eh?
Los Angeles said:
I'm Scottish, and normally refer to "Britain" as the United Kingdom, even if, as now, it isn't quite united. Saying one is British means little to an outsider other than it evokes a wartime spirit; you need to be specific. Even the Isle of Man has its own identity, laws, and traditions!
interesting, most people out here from The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland just refer to themselves as Brit's. Personally i just refer to myself as a Londoner. People oversees seem to be able to associate better with our capital city than they do with whatever we call ourselves as a country.
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