BA
Well yes and no. The Republic of Ireland is its own independent country, but it's situated on a landmass which, together with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is known as the British Isles.
Although technically the British Isles are a collection of islands on the continental shelf in North West Europe (rather than a 'landmass', the largest being the island of Great Britain, second largest being the island of Ireland.
At school (I'm a geography teacher) I tend to use the phrase you can live 'on Great Britain' as an island rather than live 'in the United Kingdom' as a country.
Doesn't help clarify the Team GB rather than UK issue though which confuses lots of people in the UK as well as around the world. The ISO code for the United Kingdom is GB with UK reserved at the request of the UK Government which adds to the confusion I'm sure.
Gareth
Bit puzzling yes, but the correct name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Team UK would be wrong because it is not one single nation.
The UK is one single nation.
No its not! It's a union of Great Britain (which is in fact a further union of 3 nations) and Northern Ireland.
Otherwise by your reasoning then the European Union is just a single nation!!!
The UK is a sovereign state. Therefore, it is one single nation. England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland are all countries, but are not sovereign states. Although you can be a national of any country of this sovereign state, you are also a national of the sovereign state - the UK
The EU is a confederation of 27 of these sovereign states. It is neither a country nor a sovereign state.
It's the same way nobody describes themselves as USA-ese - it's a language problem.
Well yes and no. The Republic of Ireland is its own independent country, but it's situated on a landmass which, together with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is known as the British Isles.
Although technically the British Isles are a collection of islands on the continental shelf in North West Europe (rather than a 'landmass', the largest being the island of Great Britain, second largest being the island of Ireland.
At school (I'm a geography teacher) I tend to use the phrase you can live 'on Great Britain' as an island rather than live 'in the United Kingdom' as a country.
Doesn't help clarify the Team GB rather than UK issue though which confuses lots of people in the UK as well as around the world. The ISO code for the United Kingdom is GB with UK reserved at the request of the UK Government which adds to the confusion I'm sure.
Gareth
Bit puzzling yes, but the correct name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Team UK would be wrong because it is not one single nation.
The UK is one single nation.
No its not! It's a union of Great Britain (which is in fact a further union of 3 nations) and Northern Ireland.
Otherwise by your reasoning then the European Union is just a single nation!!!
The UK is a sovereign state. Therefore, it is one single nation. England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland are all countries, but are not sovereign states. Although you can be a national of any country of this sovereign state, you are also a national of the sovereign state - the UK
The EU is a confederation of 27 of these sovereign states. It is neither a country nor a sovereign state.
However - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a complicated and nuanced set-up - and there isn't a perfect answer to any question regarding it that will satsify everyone.
You can't describe yourself as UK-ish i the same way as you can use British can you?
You can't describe yourself as UK-ish i the same way as you can use British can you?
It's the same way nobody describes themselves as USA-ese - it's a language problem.
