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Why do people, especially non-British citizens, refer to the United Kingdom as England?

  • England is, although part thereof, not the United Kingdom. People also seem to use the terms Great Britain, British Isles and Britain incorrectly. The British Isles is NOT a country. It is a geographical term that comprises the islands of Great Britain, Ireland and numerous smaller islands around the coasts of GB and Ireland. The United Kingdom (officially 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is the sovereign nation that encompasses the island of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and several small islands (though the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are NOT part of the UK). Great Britain is NOT the name of any country, but a geographical term. It is the name of the largest island of the British Isles and is occupied by three constituent countries of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland and Wales. England is the largest constituent country of the United Kingdom and shares land borders with Scotland and Wales, neither of which are part of England, nor is NI.

  • Answer:

    English football has a massive international profile and is partly to blame. Also 'Great Britain' in common speech in most countries is totally interchangable with 'Britain' and 'UK' when referring to the entire sovereign state officially known as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. However this is not such a simple mistake when 'GB' is the nations postal abbreviation worldwide, 'British' refers to any national product and simply everyone (even you) shortens the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to just 'UK'. In all there is a whole a mess of official terminology, cultural references, national pride and plain misunderstanding that cause this problem.

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We just don't know the difference. It looks to us like an island off the coast of France and the names seem interchangeable. Not trying to be a smart @$$, but it just doesn't seem to matter what we call it.

Gsqueeze

probably for the same reason that plenty of people refer to the USA as america, 'america' doesn't exist either, it's laziness, ignorance and a lack of caring (I know, I always refer to it as america!)

Jody W

Because they don't know what you know.

Brett E

Well said. Its pure ignorance and lack of care that people call GB England. What doesnt help is when Scotland, Wales and Ireland Win something GB wins, but when England Wins something England Wins not GB.

Scottish Girl

Because they don't know any better, they are taught only about their own country, with occasional references to other places, they don't have a clue about where in the world these places are or in fact the proper names for them. Geography isn't a strong point of people from a certain country. And why should it be? The only impotrant place to them is their country. Nowhere else needs to exist to them. And why do these people seem to think that if you are from England then you know the queen and live in London?

Britneybaby

Because we all really don't care what is the largest constituent country of the United Kingdom. It may matter a lot to you, but to the rest of the world, you are in England. Put a brave face on and accept it.

Barney R

But if the yanks think that america is a country (rather than a continent) then u can see where the problem is. Iam english and british but even though a northern irishman is part of the uk hes not british. Get that yanks

england til i die

I don't know why anyone would say "England" instead of 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". thanks for the suggestion. Are you from 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"? How long have you lived in 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"? I've never been to 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." I'd like to visit 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" but the name's too bleeding long to tell my travel agent!

Sir Vix A Lot

Yeah I have heard of many not knowing the whole thing with the UK. I guess they just haven't heard about the whole deal with the 4 countries thing. I guess because its the largest, there are more people as far as I know and the city people will usually know about is London- England!

Tatiana Kalinina

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