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.

No.

I went to a "university college" (early 90s) ie a college that was at the time affiliated to Leeds University and the degree I received was from Leeds University, despite the college actually being in a different city and despite me never setting foot on Leeds University premises. So probably for that reason, we called it "college". So I don't know what students elsewhere called their place of study at that time but it is commonly known as uni now so I'm happy to go with that.

Those of you saying you called it uni in the 80s - no you didn't

Oh yes I did!

80s? Don't you mean the 1980sAD?

I am with you on this. It is the, 'yoo-ni', that offends my ear, too. So what if slang and abbreviations are the norm? Being the norm does not make things the only way to be. I dislike, 'Varsity', come to think about it. If there is a thing I dislike more, it is an acronym for an everyday thing. I saw on a file, 'DATH'. What? 'Oh, dog at this house.' YNK.

I get that language evolves but "uni" grates. Students saying it sound daft and adults sound like they're trying too hard.

That's a subjective opinion and I'm pretty sure you're in the minority.

Omg, u r bin totes stpd.

We shorten words to make time for other things man, like, when Emmerdale Farm shortened the title, I finally found I had enough time to talk to people about the amazing characters AND STILL have time to learn how to crochet beaded penis-warmers for red-heads.

I got my degree for that from uni.

I was at uni in the 80s, 90s and 00s. Even my mum called it uni in the 80s, and she was hardly using cutting-edge youth lingo.

Too long a thread to read all comments. University too long a word. It was Uni when I went and Uni when my son went. No big deal - can't see how it worries anybody"

Evidently this 'uni' hate is class prejudice/status anxiety - perhaps a bit of disapproval/resentment among some at widened access to higher education?

The class-bound attitudes that come out again and again on MN, in 2018, never fail to astonish me. Most markedly, in many instances, in the language and accent snobbery.

Those of you saying you called it uni in the 80s - no you didn't

First heard it used in 1987 to be precise. In Glasgow, when I was asking for directions

I called it uni in the 80s. For gods sake it wasn't the dark ages. In 1993 I went to uni. Called it uni then and call it uni now!!

Horror apon horror some of us went to uni that was the old poly.

I graduated in 1990. When I started we called it College but sometime before we left it had switched to uni. Stunned that it's a problem to anyone.

Op did you ever answer the question about whether you went to uni?

My only recollection of it being called "uni" in the (mid) '80s was from Neighbours.

Evidently this 'uni' hate is class prejudice/status anxiety - perhaps a bit of disapproval/resentment among some at widened access to higher education?
Oh, what chippy bollocks.

Could you all knock off this DD, DH, DS business too? Apart from being incomprehensible, it's terribly condescending.

I would find it an absolute pure delight, if everyone could possible talk in the manner Jane Austen depicts.
Mothersnet would surely be a hilarious concoction of wit and whittle gone awry.
One can only but dream.

My most hated word is 'brunch'. Not an abbreviated word I know (of course an amalgamation). Such a smug word. It's so bloody pleased with itself. Brunch. Makes me squeal if I hear anyone use it.

I don't think I've ever called it anything else 😱

@burratorchildhood I'm a huge fan of brunch... and linner, which is a meal too late for lunch, too early for dinner, but not really tea.

Everyoneiswingingit : AD is so last century.

Well original poster if that’s your biggest stress in life about people calling it uni, then jog on.

It's Australian - I worked there in the early 80s and at the time it was definitely university in the UK. Uni wasn't used regularly here until this century

I’m a lecturer and I call it uni

So? Your uni is prolly a former poly.