For the love of God can adults please stop saying uni

[CressidaEgg]

Let's reclaim the five syllable word. University. It grates to read MNers talking about their DC going off to "uni" or even about their own time at "uni". Just call it what it is: university.

I started uni at age 50. To me saying university in full sounds like my aged mother referring to glasses as spectacles or a bedspread as a counterpane. It’s dated and aging.

Pavlova!

Like I said upthread Uni was used in the UK but it wasn't everywhere like it is now.

Mid-late 90s undergrad (!) and we didn't say 'uni', but I remember IIRC Mike (Jane's boyfriend, wasn't he a medic?) going to 'uni' on Neighbours.

I don't say 'uni' myself. But good God, what's there to predict the downfall of western civilisation about if someone does? 'Cheapens [...] a massive privilege'? I've heard it all now.

In Scotland it has been called “uni” for a very long time. My MIL said it and she was born in 1916.

I say college. It really annoys my DH. Don't care

Poly is/always has been fine. Same with bra, bus, pub .... just not uni.

I like SPAG pedants but you, OP, are an arrogant arse because it's only the shortening of university you object to, and universities weren't as accessible to the lower classes in the 80s as they are now. You can't even explain why. You're very judgmental and need to get the stick out of your arse.

Of course uni is fine

Those people saying they called in 'college' though... Surely college has always meant something different in the UK? I know they call our equivalent of uni 'college' in the US of course.

Incidentally, I think it's really unpleasant when people bang on about the 'worthlessness' of degrees nowadays (and I say this as someone who went to uni last century). Young people going off to uni today deserve respect too, even if it was all a million times better "in your day"

My uni books have been delivered today. However I need to call the uni to get something else sent cause the uni got it wrong.

Yabu

Why are bra, bus and pub "acceptable", but uni isn't, Original Poster?

I think you need to unclench, Original Poster, and find something else to worry about.

I think I actually use 'uni' when I'm being affectionate - like 'the uni policy on bullying and harassment has improved' but use 'university' when I'm disapproving - like 'I can believe the University failed to hire the awesome female engineer' or 'the University is really letting itself down'.

So sort of like using a child's full name when you are annoyed with them....

There are some who don't even know what Hilary Term is. There are bigger fish to fry!

Did the OP say whether she had attended uni?

RTFT and you'll find the OP went to university.

it's only the shortening of university you object to, and universities weren't as accessible to the lower classes in the 80s as they are now

Eh? Are you suggesting people are calling them unis now because they've started admitting the plebs?

I’m 27 with 2 degrees and call it uni. I don’t understand the beef with it. I don’t refer to it as university in conversation because it sounds pompous

No, I'm saying that YOU think that, because you haven't explained why it's acceptable to shorten other words but not university.

Another one here who remembers it starting with Neighbours.

I have said nothing to suggest that. Stop getting over-invested in a silly thread. I just think uni sounds daft and I cringe when I read/hear it.

Those people saying they called in 'college' though... Surely college has always meant something different in the UK?

Either a college within a collegiate university (so, I might refer specifically to my DD's college, or to her university department but I couldn't say her 'college department'. Or, a college which is not of university type - FE, and nowadays 6th form.

The twitter handles for oxbridge are Cambridge_Uni and UniofOxford so if it's good enough for them...

No. YABU
I work in a Uni. Do you have any idea how many times a day I have to say it/type it in full? I’ll abbreviate it all I like thanks!

While we're at it, when did school pupils (and especially primary school pupils) become "students"? Students are adults who are actually studying a particular subject at University, ffs.

It's a UK thing to call them pupils and a US thing to call them students. Talk about pupils in the US and people will think you're talking about eyes.

It's also very British to call university 'uni'. I cringe when I hear it, now that I've lived in the US for a long time, especially when it's said in a particular accent. I freely admit I find the English accent cringey even though I speak with one myself.

Having said that, there are a few regional English accents I do still quite like.

I don’t like ‘uni’ either but I don’t know how to justify my dislike! I’m ok with fridge and pram etc but uni seems to demean the institution somehow.

So, what do they call it on University Challenge? Oh wait....
Further to my post upthread perhaps I should clarify I was at University in the early 70s and, as I said , definitely no 'Uni's' around then.
In written usage I seem to recall it might have been shortened to Univ or even just U. eg, Durham Univ, York U. But only in writing.

@Stupomax - what English accents do you like. You're ok - this is a safe space 😉