Why has it become popular to call the UK the UK?

Question

I recall in the 1980's when Margaret Thatcher was in government and at that time "Great Britain" was the vernacular. Since the mid 1990's the term Uk has now become the vernacular. Both terms may have existed legally and simultaneously but the UK has now become the vernacular. Why so?

Answer 1

Because it is easier to say than the United Kingdom, and because the United Kingdom is more politically correct than Great Britain. It is the UNITED Kingdom. It is a small difference, but Great Britain still makes it sound like an empire....and we don't have empires anymore, do we? No....because empires are wrong, right?

Answer 2

I don't know why it is the term UK became the fave title for Britain. but it is not a united kingdom and it is getting more divided with Scotland and wales getting their own Parliaments. .You say mid 1990s the royal family were having a pretty unpopular time then so maybe it was spin by the govenment to make us think we were a united kingdom. The Queen lost a lot of respect from the public over her attitude when Diana was killed ,Britain was not great so maybe being pc or trade discription act or something stupid we had to drop[ the great and so we were told we lived in a united kingdom .
Just had another thought UK USA may be it is so we can more easily be associated with the USA because it seems Bush ruled Blair .

Answer 3

Maggie preferred "Great Britain" and often spoke of "Victorian Values", by which I assumed she meant child labour and pushing small boys up chimneys to sweep them by hand.

UK as in United Kingdom is just another way of expressing the lost cause of "One Nation Tory-ism".

In the modern sense, UK is quite meaningless. Britain, the name of the island where we live, is much more to the point.

Question: What will the Irish call Eire once the island of Ireland is united? The URI [United Republic of Ireland] or URE [United Republic of Eire].

The word 'great' as in Great Britain, was originally expressed as 'Greater Britain'. This was used becuse England and Wales were formerly called Britain [collective], whereas, following the Union of England and Scotland a new name was needed to express this wider unity, a treaty and an agreement between two sovereign nations.

In a sense it is no different than say, Greater London or Greater Manchester. It was originally used to described an expanded country, area etc.

Of course as a native Brit. born before the end of Empire, I am entirely disposed to the idea that Great in Gt.Brit means exactly what it says it means, in that we are indeed a Great nation and a Great people.

Is there anyone else?

"The problem with France, is that it is occupied by the French." Winston Spencer Churchill.

Answer 4

There are 3 possible answers to this:

1. It is shorter and we are all a bit on the lazy side, so lets all just say UK rather than Great Britain.

2. Great Britain is a bit on the pompous side while UK is less offencive.

3. Great Britain is made up from Scotland, England and Wales while the UK also includes Northern Ireland so it could be that we are now being more inclusive.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

Great Britain does not include Northern Ireland but UK does. I think that there has been a big difference in how closely people want to be associated with Northern Ireland since the mid 1990s, particularly since 1998. Likewise, people are more politicially correct about not wanting to exclude Northern Ireland when they are in fact referring to the whole of the UK. Also, with the implementation of the Single European Act in the late 1980s and early 1990s and the further developments in the Maastricht treaty, our European identity is much more significant and current in everyday life than it was in the early 1980s (passports, driving licences, etc). Since our correct identification in Europe is the UK, this term has obviously gained a much higher profile.

Incidentally, Great Britain is so called to distinguish it from Brittany. It is a translation of the French Grande Bretagne, literally "big Brittany". I think that we can all agree that GB is in fact larger than Brittany.

Answer 6

I wonder whether the term 'Great Britain' (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales) means anything anymore? Now that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is part of the EU, 'UK' is our identity within that group, so 'Great Britain' becomes a bit redundant. Also, Thatcher knew what buttons to press to raise national pride.

Answer 7

Only venturing an educated although perhaps incorrect answer. Since the crown represents more than simply England, I believe the term was viewed by some as too narrow and also as maybe showing favoritism for the mainland as it were. Therefore, out of a need for political correctness and also as a sign of good will the term United Kingdom was officially adopted.

In this manner all colonies and islands that were under British rule felt more cohesiveness or a more apt term may be recognized. Wanted to clarify this point, since the reality exists that more than mere words formulate a sense of cohesiveness. Still, it seemed right and respectful for them to be considered one of the family.

I suppose it's synonymous with each state in the U.S. being recognized seperately for its own history and accomplishments, but also being recognized in the country's overall formation and development. Like a member of the family, you want to validate and recognize individuality but you also want to welcome and support them as part of the larger unit for those accomplishments and contributions.

Answer 8

Probably becuase UK is quicker and easier to say.

Although, the actual difference between UK and Great Britain is that hte UK includes Northren Ireland. It's possible that for a ling time during the troubles, NI didn't like being associated with GB and that we didn't want to include it. Maybe now things have settled down, we are becoming United and therefor the UK again.

Answer 9

It DID grow to be extensive-unfold! The Communist social gathering have been very huge and influential interior the Trades Union stream and the working classification interior the late 1940's and with the aid of the 1950's and early 1960's. Their project replaced into that they have been a Stalinist corporation and as a result counter-present day. they did no longer mirror the hopes and aspirations of the British working classification.

Answer 10

Great Britain = England, Scotland and Wales.

United Kingdom = the above + Northern Ireland.