To be confused by the facts surrounding what is is to be British, Scottish, Welsh, Irish or 'from the UK'.

[owlelf]

Apologies in advance to anyone upset my ignorance but I am genuinely confused by the what is the most correct and least offensive way to explain how Britain and the UK are comprised, what the correct nationalities are and how the various flags should be used to represent us?

Am I correct in thinking Britain = England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and The United Kingdom = England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

I would describe myself as British, living in the UK and the flag I most identify with is the Union Jack. However, I'm only just beginning to realise that the term 'British' is not a way that many people in some parts Britain would like to describe themselves, and I now realise that loads of people in Scotland don't identify with the Union Jack.

Ds was asking me recently what 'our' flag was. I told him it was the Union Jack, but his grandpa has confused the issue by insisting that our flag is the St George's Cross.

Sporting events seem to muddy the water further- sometimes we compete separately as England Ireland Scotland and Northern Ireland, at other times we compete all together as the UK.

AIBU to be confused??

[TheUnMember]

I'm British and identify with the Union Jack. Born and raised in England but with an Irish father and 'English' mother with Welsh and Scottish grandparents.

Want to be Welsh though as they have the best flag in entire world. :o

[Lac365]

Britain and UK are the same.
Comprises of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (not Ireleand).

The Union Jack is the flag of the UK/Great Britain.
The St. George's Cross is the flag of England.

As for me, I'm British first and Scottish second.

[sarahtigh]

its actually the union flag only called union jack at sea technically

in terms of a passport you are british ( not english/scottish etc)

it depends on sport whether it si combined or not

some see union flag as british but some see it as english and british, as often english sports fans waved union flags as well as St george's so sometimes union is not seen as british but more english in parts of scotland etc

[TheUnMember]

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=uk+british+isles&um=1&hl=sv&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:sv-SE:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=FvVa2rq0Tjy5pM:&imgrefurl=justinsomnia.org/2008/11/whats-the-difference-between-the-uk-and-great-britain/&docid=Wn2vqc34lQ6sIM&imgurl=justinsomnia.org/images/british-isles-terminology-euler-diagram.jpg&w=380&h=424&ei=41bHT9qoHomg0QXEqvmFDw&zoom=1&biw=1255&bih=912" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">This explains all the terms.

[welliesandpyjamas]

I don't think it's confusing, it's just that it doesn't seem to have been made that clear to many people in school/growing up/etc.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain is made up of Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each one has their own national flag but we all share the British flag (i.e. the flag of Union). We are all British (although many have a political view on this) and we all are also Welsh/English/Scottish/Northern Irish.

[Emandlu]

is a good 5 minute video explaining it all.

[bluecarrot]

Yup - really straightforward

The other thing is "mainland UK" some companies include NI in this, but others consider it to be just Scotland, Wales and England.

I live in Northern Ireland, currently hold a British passport, but identify as Irish. (we have dual nationality) Our next passports will probably be Irish.

[crikeyitshot]

i.e. You can be British English, British Scottish, British Welsh etc

[JennyPiccolo]

YANBU to be confused. Nationality is what you feel.

[owlelf]

That's a really useful diagram, thank you theunmember.

I have never heard that about the Union flag Sarah, one of those little known facts I guess!!

LAC I have to admit to being really heartened to hear someone describe themselves as 'British first and Scottish second'. I appreciate that everyone is entitled to describe themsleves in whatever way they wish, and that there are complicated issues behind some people feeling un-british but all the same I like the 'British' thing!!

[JennyPiccolo]

Hmm, maybe national identity is what you feel, nationality is what's on your passport.

[KeepingUpWithTheCojones]

Great britain is england, scotland and wales.

The uk is the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

...i think.

[2rebecca]

I like the video but would disagree with the guy when he says that people who describe themselves as "Irish" come from the Republic. I have a few colleagues from both NI and Eire and regardless of their religion they tend to describe themselves as "Irish". I can imagine some protestants in NI don't use the term but many do.
Mainland UK is Great Britain.

[eurochick]

Lac that's not correct. The UK= The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (full name).

The diagram is useful theunmember. It explains it really well.

I consider my nationality as English. Lots of forms won't accept this (e.g. US immigration) - you have to put UK for nationality. I don't think anyone would describe themselves as United Kingdomish so I find that bizarre.

[Frontpaw]

And the union flag is often flown upside down by mistake (meaning 'in distress' in nautical terms).

[owlelf]

Frontpaw upside down- I thought it was the same either way up! I am off to have a closer look and then will google!

[DamnBamboo]

Great Britain = England, Scotlan and Wales.

UK = all of the above + Northern Ireland.

Ireland doesn't feature in it at all.

[WipsGlitter]

Great Britain is the island (England, Scotland and Wales). The "united" kingdom is these three and Northern Ireland - hence "united".

Ireland is a separate country, own government, in the euro, different passport etc etc.

[Onthebottomwithawomansweekly]

Just a hint - never describe someone from the Republic of Ireland as British, could start a row!

Billie Piper as Rose in a Dr Who episode corrected someone very smartly about the Union Jack/Union Flag difference

[TheUnMember]

WARNING: ASPIE FLAG NERD ALERT

its actually the union flag only called union jack at sea technically

No it isn't. It was discussed in Parliament in 1908 and was confirmed by 'His Majesty's Government' that can be called the Union Jack when flown on land. Current guidance from Parliament's Flags and Heraldry Committee says you can still call it the Union Jack and fly it on land, but you can't use it as a tablecloth.

[DamnBamboo]

p.s. I call myself British

[thefurryone]

UK = England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and is a political term

Great Britain = England, Scotland, Wales and is technically just a geographical term for the land mass that these three countries occupy, but it often gets used as an alternative name for the UK leading to confusion. Particularly as people from the UK are called British.

British Isles = England, Scotland, Wales, the island of Ireland and all of the other islands, such as The Scilies, The Isle of Man, The Hebrides, Orkneys and again this is a geographical term. Some Irish people have been known to take offence at this due to the way UK/ GB is used so interchangeably and because of an historically bad relationship.

OP YANBU to be confused, because it is actually confusing.

[fluffiphlox]

I am Welsh and British. If I am in a country like France where they have heard of Wales, I will say I am Welsh. Otherwise I will usually say I am British. I don't mind either.

[WenTheEternallySurprised]

"I consider my nationality as English."

eurochick, that's a great username for the comments you just made!

I'm English, I identify with the cross of St George flag. When confronted with, "And you're British, madam?" by form-filling types my response is always, "No, I'm English".

[DamnBamboo]

My mum is Irish (from the Republic of Ireland), if you called her British she'd punch you on the nose