People living in England, would you rather be known as English or British?

Question

Just wondered as people seem to foget that England is the country that we live in and Britain is the name of the state!

Also if you are born in England and talk and act like youre English then arent you English regardless of skin colour, or ethinic group?

Answer 1

English - It seems to me that we English are often pretty apologetic about owning our identity as if it were something shameful - and go for the broader definition which blurs the boundaries. I very much identify with the countryside of England and the culture which we often pretend doesn't exist, and I am not in the least bit jingoistic
just like England and Englishness.

Answer 2

Such a simple question and everybody gets their knickers in a twist!
If you were born in England you are English.
Likewise the other countries of the U.K. can call themselves whatever they are.
When we are in mixed company, the group verb is British.
The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain consists of England (80% of the UK population) Scotland and Wales.
The British Isles, unlike a previous answer which was incorrect, consists of England Scotland Wales AND THE WHOLE OF THE ISLAND OF IRELAND : THIS IS PURELY GEOGRAPHIC NOT POLITICAL. I think people who shove any old answer down on this website should be taken outside and have their legs slapped!
I am English but I currently reside in Scotland, The scots will not countenance being called British ( their so up themselves) therefore, I no longer call myself anything other than English and I wish more English people would do so.

Answer 3

I was born in England. So were both my parents. My Grandparents on my fathers side, well, one was Scottish and the other Irish. On my mothers side, both were English. I prefer to be called English.
I don't see why it matters, though. After all, regardless of what I prefer to be called, I still have a British Passport and not an English one - in fact, even that has been taken away and I now have a Euro Passport. Well, it is still a British Passport - but they all look the same now.
It's just a great big melting pot!

Answer 4

Not all people born in England consider themselves English. I was born there, and am of English heritage. Therefore, I consider myself English. When asked, I will always say that I'm English. To say that I'm British could mean I'm from a different country. There are people that are born in England who don't consider themselves English. For example, they may be of Indian parents who emigrated there. They might just consider themselves as British citizens, not even British.

Just to make clear a few terms:

UK: Northern Ireland and the British Isles
British Isles: Britain and the surounding islands (except Ireland)
Britain: England, Wales, and Scotland

Answer 5

The tide is turning towards people saying they are English rather than British, this is partly because of Britain's unpopular foreign policy. It is also as a reaction to the devolution of Scotland and the Welsh Assembly which both are seen as moves away from Britain.

Answer 6

The English like being called English, but those who have ancestors from elsewhere in Britain like to be British.

Answer 7

English. Being British has strong political overtones, especially in Northern Ireland.

Answer 8

Don't really mind. I suppose being asked if your British means you have to elaborate and specify where in Britain, so saying I'm English saves time.

Answer 9

Not so much of the people LIVING in England, they could be from anywhere - it's the people whose parents and grandparents were BORN AND BRED here and whose descendants STILL LIVE here that should be called ENGLISH.

Answer 10

I've always said British but on realising how many Scots welsh and Irish hate us i say English and proud.