The Difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England Explained

[kabbes]

Many English people have the habit of saying 'England' when they really mean Britain. I used to pull people up on it. Can't be bothered nowadays. Don't pull up anyone not from Britain. Don't expect them to know or necessarily care that there is a difference.

QI once told me that “England” was once generically used interchangeably with “Great Britain” and that our modern separation of the two is, IIRC, a 20th century invention. No idea if it’s true though.

 

[isvicthere?]

Here in Spain, my Scottish wife has got used to being described as inglesa without bristling. Like much of the world, in Spain England/ Britain are synonymous.

Since the frauderendum, I´ve thought long and hard about how I would categorise myself. I arrived at: First, European; second, London; third (in strictly legal representative terms), British. And not "English" at all, because of the way English "patriotism" usually manifests itself as a shaven-headed, quasi-nazi, beer-swilling creed. It´s a shame, when you think about all the amazing and positive achievements of English people in the last thousand years, from the Domesday Book and Magna Carta and the world wide web.

 

[Sue]

QI once told me that “England” was once generically used interchangeably with “Great Britain” and that our modern separation of the two is, IIRC, a 20th century invention. No idea if it’s true though.

By English people, perhaps. I'd be surprised if that were true of Scottish/Welsh people in Scotland/Wales.

(If it was on QI, that smug twat Stephen Fry was likely involved so... )

 

[Sue]

Here in Spain, my Scottish wife has got used to being described as inglésa without bristling. Like much of the world, in Spain England/ Britain are synonymous.

And easier than escocesa but, you know...

 

[Spymaster]

Yeah! Who ever heard of Fantastic France or Awesome Azerbaijan?

The "Great" refers to its size, not its power, and was originally a distinction between Britain and Ireland.

The classical writer, Ptolemy, referred to the larger island as great Britain (megale Bretannia) and to Ireland as little Britain (mikra Brettania) in his work, Almagest (147–148 AD).

 

[brogdale]

By English people, perhaps. I'd be surprised if that were true of Scottish/Welsh people in Scotland/Wales.

(If it was on QI, that smug twat Stephen Fry was likely involved so... )

Might have been referring to the early Middle Ages? The time before Scotland, as such, exited as sovereign state? Although the modern usage of Great Britain did not really occur until 1707...so sounds a bit iffy to me?

 

[isvicthere?]

The "Great" refers to its size, not its power, and was originally a distinction between Britain and Ireland.

I know. I was joking about the numpties who always say, "Let´s put the Great back into Britain again" etc.

 

[brogdale]

That said, the Gardiner's plate, on the previous page, for 550 is titled "England" and includes what was to become Scotland and Wales. ?

 

[Sue]

The "Great" refers to its size, not its power, and was originally a distinction between Britain and Ireland.

And as opposed to Le Petite Bretagne (Brittany).

 

[Pickman's model]

Down here, if I'm asked about my nationality, I describe myself as "expat Sais", which usually serves OK. And, for the vast majority of the Welsh people I meet, there's none of the swivel-eyed supremacy-driven, three-syllable-England nationalism of the mother country: the Welsh variety is built on pride, joy, and rugby, not Stella, racism, and thumping people.

England is the only country in the world where flag manufacturers write the country's name on flags so peiole know which way up to hold them

 

[likesfish]

Technically a union jack upside down is a sign of distress which is so subtle most people wouldn't notice.

 

[mx wcfc]

QI once told me that “England” was once generically used interchangeably with “Great Britain” and that our modern separation of the two is, IIRC, a 20th century invention. No idea if it’s true though.

We may have watched the same QI. On the one I remember, the question was to do with the Oxford History of England (OHE).

This is a quote from wiki's page on the OHE
"Use of the term "England"[edit]
When the series was commissioned:

"England" was still an all-embracing word. It meant indiscriminately England and Wales; Great Britain; the United Kingdom; and even the British Empire. (A. J. P. Taylor, Volume XV: English History, 1914–1945, page v)"

I have learned not to put to much reliance on Fry's musings, but I'll take AJP Taylor's word for it.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Technically a union jack upside down is a sign of distress which is so subtle most people wouldn't notice.

Often just a sign of gammons who don't know how to operate a flag.

 

[brogdale]

We may have watched the same QI. On the one I remember, the question was to do with the Oxford History of England (OHE).

This is a quote from wiki's page on the OHE
"Use of the term "England"[edit]
When the series was commissioned:


I have learned not to put to much reliance on Fry's musings, but I'll take AJP Taylor's word for it.

Seemingly many US citizens still adhere to this all-encompassing usage; maybe due to their infatuation with the Queen of England & her loathsome family?

 

[weepiper]

English people's idea of what constitutes The North is wild.

 

[brogdale]

English people's idea of what constitutes The North is wild.

The border, with the North London cathedral in the background:

 

[krtek a houby]

The "Great" refers to its size, not its power, and was originally a distinction between Britain and Ireland.

Green Britain and Grand Ireland

 

[Marty1]

If abroad and someone asks me where I’m from I say the U.K. or England. May have said I’m British before after someone asked if I was from Australia.

 

[NoXion]

Born in England (Lewisham to be precise), family from my father's side is Scottish, and I spent some of my most important formative years in a very Welsh part of Wales. As far as I'm concerned, "British" is the only descriptor that makes sense to me.

 

[Sue]

English people's idea of what constitutes The North is wild.

Yeah, to me the North of England is Carlisle or Newcastle, -- someone who told me they were 'Northern' recently turned out to be from Leicester...

I'm from the South of Scotland and when I tell people that as the British mainland goes, where I'm from is about the middle if you measure on a map, they never believe me.

 

[SpookyFrank]

English people's idea of what constitutes The North is wild.

Not when you realise they're talking about the North of England.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I'm from the South of Scotland

You call that South? Pah.

 

[Sue]

You call that South? Pah.

South of Scotland, sure.

 

[Lurdan]

It seems simple to me. I live in Whitechapel so if anyone asks where I'm from I say South London.

 

[Favelado]

English people's idea of what constitutes The North is wild.

Southerners' idea maybe. Not our idea in the The North of England.

British has different meanings in different contexts. It has a positive inclusive meaning in London, where it's been used as an umbrella term for everyone, regardless of background. It doesn't have that connotation outside of London I don't think.

I don't like calling myself "English" because I think it has overt nationalistic, petty-minded connotations these days. I am either just Northern, waiting for the day that the Granada TV region declares a republic, or British in the sense of "I am from the island of Britain", which is geographically true and takes the state out of things.

 

[brogdale]

It seems simple to me. I live in Whitechapel so if anyone asks where I'm from I say South London.

Reminded me of my own thread about Kent, North of the river:

Exploring Kent, North of the River...

Yes, really....although I have to admit that modern types tend to insist that it's part of London Borough of Newham now.:rolleyes: Howsomedever...the Brogdales decided to go out East and have a bit of a wander around part of Section 15 of the Capital Ring largely as we've finally sussed out the...

www.urban75.net

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Here in Spain, my Scottish wife has got used to being described as inglesa without bristling. Like much of the world, in Spain England/ Britain are synonymous.

When I went on school exchange in Spain years ago, our hosts made a big effort to welcome us and get where we were from right. At a welcome do held by the mayor (yes, the mayor gave us a welcome do - needless to say this wasn't reciprocated when they came here), we were introduced as 'Los estudiantes galeses de Inglaterra'. They tried...

 

[campanula]

I am an east anglian. Don't know what to say about nationality as it's a mish-mash about which I care little.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

QI once told me that “England” was once generically used interchangeably with “Great Britain” and that our modern separation of the two is, IIRC, a 20th century invention. No idea if it’s true though.

Herbert Asquith’s grave states he was prime minister of England from 1908 to 1916. He died in 1928.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I tend to say British to English speakers and English to non-English speakers, but usually just say I’m from London and that’s enough.