To point out yet again to the geographically challenged of Britain....

[AnnabelleLee]

THAT northern Ireland is in the UK. Ireland is an entirely separate country. Like,properly different,with its own currency and culture and laws and all that.
FFS.

I remember nothing of school geography lessons, other than something about oxbow lakes and other stuff about why shopping centres were built next to docks... I don't think any of the UK/Britain/NI etc was ever even mentioned. Maybe that's why astronomy appeals - because then we all just live on earth!

You're confusing the Ireland with the Republic of Ireland OP. Ireland is not a country, it's an island. If you're going to post threads correcting other posters at least get your facts straight.

Worra, an American lady came into a shop I worked in once and said 'oh, you've been to London - you know Karen?'

I hate it when Americans talk about a British accent. It usually means middle class Home Counties.

I can hear the difference between people from Texas and people from New Jersey and I imagine there are different class variations too so why can't they?

Can any Americans I haven't insulted tell me whether Dominic West and Idris Elba do good Baltimore accents? And what about Hugh Laurie? Where's he supposed to be from?

I'm hoping this thread isn't going to be drearily pulled because I want someone to explain in simple terms the difference between Holland and the Netherlands, if any.

I once tried to understand but it made my brain hurt.

I can't remember what oxbow lakes are, although I remember the term. But I do know the difference between the British Isles, the UK, Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales, and that Eire is an entirely independent country.

Tarantula, who disputes the term British Isles, and what do they suggest instead?

I used to know someone who thought it was funny to encourage American tourists to refer to Scotland as Scotland, England.

Holland is part of The Netherlands, just as Wales is part of Britain. I think! The country is The Netherlands, not Holland.

And are there regional accents in Australia?

Because one Australian told there weren't and another one told me she was talking rot.

Right, because people from the UK would never talk about Americans having an American accent would they?

The country is called Ireland too. 'Republic of' is a description of the state but the official name is just Ireland.

Could the posters discussing America clarify whether they are referrring to the whole continent or the smallish subset consisting of the United States of America?

Wrong, Johnny. Ireland is the country, Republic of is merely a description. The island of Ireland comprises both, Ireland alone refers to the country itself.

edam how an oxbow lake is formed is one of two facts that that stuck in my brain from geography lessons.

The other is how a sand dune moves.

Both vital pieces of knowledge I'm still waiting to apply along with my only German phrase: 'Das is ein auto und kein flugzoig.' (I might have spelled it wrongly)

wobbly I take it that I've offended you and I'll have to wait for someone else to answer my questions about The Wire and House.

Thanks limited. I got a B in Geography so must have known this at some point (although I seem to recall writing rather a lot about India).

Thanks limited, if nothing else, today I have learnt what a billabong is!

Edam en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming_dispute

We never used the term British Isles at school and was considered an incorrect term back then (and that was quite a while ago).
When I was at university (studying Geography) in England it was generally refered to as the West European Isles by lecturers or just as Britain and Ireland.

Worra, an American lady came into a shop I worked in once and said 'oh, you've been to London - you know Karen?'

Haha!

My Dad's Irish and when people find out he's from Cork, they say things like "Oh so you must know Paddy and Nora?"

The weird thing is, he usually does?!?

Ah, I thought it would be something to do with the Republic of Ireland (Eire).

Isn't West European Isles/Islands ambiguous, because there are others than are not part of the British Isles?

twocats I do understand that after a lengthy conversation with a Canadian about the continent called America and the terms North America, Central America, South America and the difference between Canadians and United States citizens.

I did actually get that those last two were from different countries but I was too beaten into submission at that point to mention it.

I was lazily using shorthand to refer to people from Canada and the United States. I feel suitably chastised.

I can sometimes tell the difference between their accents, just like I can just about distinguish between Australians and Kiwis, but if they're from border states I can't.

Is it correct to refer to states in Canada? It's a fact I'd really like to add to my stock of general knowledge.

The thing about using the term western European isles is that surely that should also include any of the ones off the coast of France too for example belle ile. It's not surprising that there is so much confusion over names

Why should it? They are included elsewhere.

Surely you can seewhy British Isles is frowned upon?

Edam don't use the word Eire.

I know someone from Cork who objects to it, although since she can't explain things in a rational manner, I've never understood why it's wrong.

Or even if it is.

Annabelle - but there isn't a sensible alternative. West European Isles is ambiguous - what about the islands that belong to Denmark, or France?