Why can't the English distinguish between 'England' and 'Britain' or the 'UK'?

Question

There was yet another case of 'England' being used in the media today rather than the UK. Even the BBC is guilty. Is it ignorance or just a blind spot?

There's an excuse for people for abroad making this mistake, but not domestically.

Answer 1

I think when i was at school (many years ago!) we were always told we were `British` but now i make a point of stating that i am English. I don`t want to be classed as British, i have figured that if the Scots and Welsh want to disassociate with Britain (except when it comes to funding from our taxes) then lets all be independent.

Answer 2

If you go to today's bbc news website then click on 'Education' (use link), then you unsurprisingly find yourself among education-related news stories; however, whilst one might expect the British Broadcasting Corporation to cover British or even UK education stories in this section of their news site, what one actually finds is predominantly English education stories.

Education is a devolved matter: the Scottish Parliament, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies hold responsibility for education in their respective nations. The British Broadcasting Corporation should have all 4 home nations' education-related stories in this section. Each story could make clear that it is English, Welsh, Scottish or Northern irish education that it is referring to. Instead, if you live in Scotland, you have to click on 'Scotland' to read Scotland-specific news (all news). It is things such as this plus the plethora of other small gripes, which add to a mushrooming resentment towards the English-based media. When the word England is used when it should actually be UK (e.g. Queen of England), is reveals ignorance on behalf of the corporation or individual responsible. (Incidentally, the UK has never had an Elizabeth 1; England prior to the Union of the Crowns had an Elizabeth the 1; thus our current queen should actually be Elizabeth 1 of the UK..commonwealth etc.)

The person above correctly stated that Britain refers to the Island nations of Scotland, Wales and England; UK refers to those three plus Northern Ireland. (Although Shakespeare, when referring to England, wrote about the 'sceptred isle'! Good grasp of language will, shame about geography. Been going on for years).

Answer 3

People are poorly educated these days and most do not know:

England is part of Britain.

Britain is the British Isles ONLY (so it includes Wales and Scotland).

The United Kingdom is the British Isles + Northern Ireland and the little offshore islands we own.

And to be fair, I don't really see the big deal between words when describing where you come from. For example, take that pleb a few answers above me who writes "England" onto every form he fills in that asks for his nationality.

WOW. So patriotic. What a pile of w4nk. Just write Britain - it is more recognised and you are harldy exorcising any great right in rubbishing the "likes" of Wales and Scotland in the word you use to describe your nationality. The "image" of England has just become "tacky", mainly thanks to those boozing, fighting, football lout plebs.

I like my home country, but I am not one of those lager drinking, football supporting louts who have given patriotism in this country such a bad name; it is no surprise we are so despised in Europe and elsewhere. It just comes across as painfully chavvy and plebby when the St George is emblazoned anywhere other than on the national teams England shirts...

There is a middle aged guy down my gym, who looks relatively respectable, up until you notice the England flag tattood onto his calf. Then all of the chav imagery starts flying through the mind...

I'm British - it's got more class to it - but at the end of the day, who cares?

Answer 4

I agree with you, I am English but I try really carefully to talk about Britain or the British when referring to the whole of the UK or specifically to Scottish or Welsh as apropriate. I know that I would get totally p*ssed off about it if I was Scottish or Welsh and anyone who says that they do not understand is a complete pratt, everyone has a right to their own national identity. It must be very frustrating when foreigners do it as well, you hear Americans referring to the UK as England all the time, and there is absolutely no excuse for our own media, that is unforgivable.

Answer 5

On any form that I am required to fill in,my nationality is stated as British/English

Answer 6

In my experience, and that's the only thing I can judge on, most people do know the difference. But I don't really care whether their geography is accurate or not in this context.

Answer 7

I know exactly what you mean and we in Scotland get totally pi$$ed off when this happens, when Scotland does something good we're British, when it's something bad we're Scottish, when English are bad they are British, when they're good they are English, and they wonder where all the hatred comes from???

Answer 8

Can you distinguish between the UK and Britain?

Answer 9

for the same reasons Americans cant distinguish between America, the USA, and North America

Answer 10

Any chance of you giving us a link or an example as it looks just like a rant?

And i agree with the first answer