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.

Sorry Op. YABU. Uni is acceptable. Bit different but the phrase I hate at the moment is 'It would be rude not to' ie..
A - 'oh look, 2 glasses of Prosecco for the price of 1 !
B - 'Ooh, lets indulge..be rude not to' !
Me - Aaaaarrgghhh !

The only students I've heard who refer to university as "school" are people at the London School of Economics, so I assumed it was a peculiarity because the word appears in the name. Is it more widespread than that?

Ha Ha.
I'm with you OP!

I avoid shortened versions of words I grew up with as much as possible - just doesn't sit naturally with me. Same when someone suddenly shortens their name but I'm used to the full version - feels 'odd' to suddenly call Jessica 'Jess'.

But then I'm a dinosaur who disagrees with half of what I read on here.

Having a degree did have some kind of status attached to it in the days before University became "uni". The contraction of the word goes together with other undesirable developments in HE. @CSIblonde

The only students I've heard who refer to university as "school" are people at the London School of Economics, so I assumed it was a peculiarity because the word appears in the name. Is it more widespread than that?

's an american thing

Gosh

LOL Uni or University does not apply to me or mine but I'd not get worked up over usage of the word ., be it in full or shortened.

Ah serbska that makes sense! My eldest DD has just started at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and I've heard her refer to it as "school"

is morning tv that boring this morning OP.

How can you say people didn't call it uni in the 80s? Were you there? Specifically when people said uni?

I miss polytechnics......

Americans and Canadians say “school”. (Google is your friend!)

I’ve never heard anyone say “when I was at varsity “ or “ yes, I studied English at varsity” but have heard people say “ I’m going to varsity Ball” or “I’m playing a varsity match” usually applies to Oxbridge I believe.

You wouldn’t want to say you were going to a ‘uni ball’ 😂

@ladyhooha and what undesirable changes in HE are you referring to? The expansion of the HE system has brought along some issues but they are definitely outweighed by the benefits.

If we are using proper, full words for things, can we start calling Buses Omnibuses again?

@CressidaEgg

My dad went to uni in the late seventies/early eighties. He and my mum were in different countries for a while and wrote letters. I've seen some of those letters and they wrote "uni".

It was used in the 80s.

is morning tv that boring this morning OP?

I wouldn't know, I never watch TV live.

Yes, I was at university in the 80s - no-one called it uni. Those who insist they did are suffering some form of false memory syndrome.

Did PGCE early 2004/5 - didn't hear it being called uni then.

Went back to university in 2012 and it was in common usage.

@BlueUggs Surely you mean polys.....?

The millionaire from my council estate went to the Poly after finishing his apprenticeship. He did his PHD there and then (crucial to the money side!) started a company based on the doofer he developed.

The Poly had better bands on too.

Having a degree did have some kind of status attached to it in the days before University became "uni". The contraction of the word goes together with other undesirable developments in HE

Absolutely classic mumsnet HE snobbery

I hate the word uni, but I know I am be totally unreasonable as I say pram, phone, advert, poly etc.
I went in the 70’s and never heard anyone say uni but on the other hand never heard anyone say polytechnic.

Are you implying it's (um, it is) juvenile to shorten words? Getting worked up about incredibly minor things is a sign of stress OP. I hope you are ok?

There’s only one person here trying too hard love...

I’d rather be a poly than a...

My brother and I went to uni(versity) in the 70s. If I had thought of it, I would have called in uni then. If you referred to yourself as going back to or coming home from university it was perceived as boasting because you weren't at a poly(technic) or college. (I don't think there were as many universities then, and now some of the polys and colleges have become universities, so I dare say it isn't viewed in the same way now). People used to mimic you saying "university" in a silly voice. In fact I used to say I was going back to college to avoid the embarrassment.

To hear my DM saying that either of us was going back to university used to make me cringe.

adults sound like they're trying too hard.

Don’t be so silly.

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

We really did though.

Uni is supposed to expand the mind Original Poster (no OP for you, I guess?), did it not work for you?

I hate "uni" too though I do accept IABU.
No one called it uni when I went in the late 70s,or when my parents went,or my grandparents....
Actually,tell a lie - had one friend who said uni,and she stood out because she was the only one
I know times change but it's still bl**dy irritating.