What do you/should you call this island we live on?

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What do you/should you call this island we live on when said aloud?

The U.K
9
53%
The United Kingdom
0
No votes
G.B
0
No votes
Great Britan
3
18%
Britan
3
18%
England / Ireland / Scotland / Wales
2
12%
The British Isles
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 17
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Bail
Posts: 1142
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 21.41
Location: UK

Just a random thought that quite literally popped into my head a few mins ago... But what do you call this place most of us call home, there are quite a few names for it.
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Nick Harvey
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This isn't going to be much help, but it's the, technically, correct answer.

You live in Hampshire, which is in England.

England (together with Wales and Scotland) is part of Great Britain.

Great Britain is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom (together with Eire and a few "odds and sods" like the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) is part of the British Isles.

Abbreviations are perfectly acceptable.

The strict answer to your question is, therefore, "all of the above".

As to how I actually refer to it, in everyday conversation, I'm still going to be no help, I'm afraid, because the strict answer to that is "any of the above", depending on the context.

And all this is before we move on to such oddities as the "England" cricket team, actually being the "England and Wales" cricket team.

I think I'll stop now.
Jamez
Banned
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Joined: Sun 30 May, 2004 23.02
Location: Bristol

When we finally get round to kicking Scotland out of the union, there'll be space on the union flag for Welsh representation! ;)

Until fairly recently I used to refer to myself as British, but it just seems old fashioned. I much prefer to say I am Welsh. It's a shame that the English have pissed away their national identity. Well, they haven't - the liberal lefties have pissed it away on behalf of the majority of English people. Poor sods.

Then again, I'm reminded almost daily that England is home to some of the most vociferously rude and arrogant people I've ever met. There's rude and snobby people wherever you go, but the ratio is a LOT higher just across the border.
Spencer For Hire
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Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2004 17.47
Location: From The North

'Britan' and 'Great Britan'? I see you've specifically catered for what 623058 calls the country.
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Bail
Posts: 1142
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 21.41
Location: UK

No, that would be my idiocy
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Jamez
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Posts: 2587
Joined: Sun 30 May, 2004 23.02
Location: Bristol

Bail has never been too good with spelling. But not knowing how to spell the name of his own country is scandalous! ;)
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Bail
Posts: 1142
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 21.41
Location: UK

Actually my spelling is fine, its my typing that isn't, I type to quickly (wrongly) and don't proof read.
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marksi
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Joined: Wed 07 Jan, 2004 05.38
Location: Donaghadee

Where does Northern Ireland appear in your poll?
Gareth
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun 19 Oct, 2003 00.19
Location: Suffolk

Looking at the question the correct answer should, for people on the UK mainland be "Great Britain" as the question asks for the "island".

Mr Harvey is, of course correct. I spent a whole day trying to explain it to a fellow trainee geography teacher last year and he still doesn't get it!
marbles333
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun 08 Oct, 2006 18.25
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Hmm I have to agree with Nick Harvey on that one.

When asked what country I live in (by some random person) I'd most likely say the UK, especially so many people overseas have no idea what or where Wales is. Plus really the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the "official" country I live in; Wales is just a constituent country of that.
Johnny
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Joined: Fri 22 Aug, 2003 20.18
Location: The London Borough of East London

I normally say I'm English and usually use UK to describe where I live, but I would use any of the above really, depending on the context.
Johnny

Harry Hill : "What is it about people that repair shoes that makes them so good at cutting keys? Try going in there with a shoe shaped like a key and see how confused they get."
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