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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why everyone is calling every school holiday "half term" all of a sudden?

192 replies

CollieFIower · 04/04/2023 11:44

It's not "half term" now. Half term is literally halfway through a term - summer/Easter/Christmas holidays mark the end of a term.

One half term break is in October, between the summer and Christmas holidays.

One half term break is in February, halfway between the Christmas and Easter holidays.

One half term break is in late may, halfway between the Easter and summer holidays.

Then you have actual holidays that come at the end of a term, and a new term starts when school goes back afterwards.

It seems like over the last couple of years I'm seeing all holidays referred to as "half term" and I know it's hardly a big deal and yes I'm also worried about nuclear war and child poverty but it still annoys me a bit!

OP posts:
Original poster
CollieFIower · 04/04/2023 21:55

ConstanceOcean · 04/04/2023 21:53

Some people can’t have a discussion without resorting to name calling unfortunately.

These are the same people who get so triggered over someone saying half term instead of Easter, so I guess they just have major issues.

Show quote history

I beg your pardon - I started the thread, but I certainly haven't called anyone thick and I hope I haven't insinuated it either!

OP posts:
Werehalfwaythere · 04/04/2023 21:56

Sorry, but... Get a life.

Who really cares?!

Noodledoodledoo · 04/04/2023 21:58

Drives me mad, but so many students say it (I'm a teacher) I catch myself saying it. Makes me want to scream

HappyValet · 04/04/2023 22:07

*There was the opposite too,when someone posted in the October half term 'So proud of DS finishing his first term'

It's not difficult to understand*

October is the end of the Autumn term here (bearing in mind it starts mid-August)

Then there's the winter term to Christmas, spring term to Easter and summer term to the end of June.

Werehalfwaythere · 04/04/2023 22:12

HappyValet · 04/04/2023 22:07

*There was the opposite too,when someone posted in the October half term 'So proud of DS finishing his first term'

It's not difficult to understand*

October is the end of the Autumn term here (bearing in mind it starts mid-August)

Then there's the winter term to Christmas, spring term to Easter and summer term to the end of June.

I work in a primary school and our school database system (one of the big ones that many schools use), splits the school year into 6 terms.

This is then visible to all parents.

So, I find it quite easy to understand why lots of parents consider there to be 6 terms, of which each is the end of term.

Odilon · 04/04/2023 22:16

OMG I’m glad it’s not just me. Drives me insane! I’ve started subtly (read passive-aggressively lol) correcting it. Someone said in a chat the other week, ‘Is that during half term?’ (meaning the current Easter holiday) and I replied ‘It’s during the holidays, yes’. I’m sure it went over her head but it made me feel a bit better! I’ve even heard the summer holidays referred to as ‘half term’. I genuinely don’t understand how some people’s brains work.

BUT it’s probably a pointless battle to fight if that’s the way we’re headed. Languages tend to evolve away from complexity and towards simplification, so having multiple different expressions for different types of school holiday isn’t actually very natural or efficient from a linguistic standpoint. My DS has started saying it too and when I picked him up on it he just sighed ‘No one CARES’ in his very teenagey way. So I’d say we’re a good 50% of the way towards it becoming a permanent change.

Whenever I get worked up about things like this, I like to remind myself of the Daily Mash headline, ‘Dad chooses saying “series” instead of “season” as his hill to die on’. I know someone who still types two spaces after a full stop. ‘Half term’ as a generic term for school holidays makes zero sense, but times change and I don’t want to be “series” mum or two-spaces guy!

Don’t mind me, I’ve got a significant birthday tomorrow and I’m feeling some weird combination of maudlin and ‘I will wear purple’. 😁

thegrain · 04/04/2023 22:20

So is this not half term?

eatdrinkandbemerry · 04/04/2023 22:31

Does it really matter 🤷‍♀️

Hollyhead · 04/04/2023 22:36

Yanbu! I am normally quite zen about things but it drives me mad! It’s the Easter Holidays!!!

malificent7 · 04/04/2023 22:37

Yanbu and yes it does matter. Half term is 1 week not 2 or 6 weeks.

IShouldGoToSleep · 04/04/2023 22:38

My husband does this. Drives me crazy!!! Grounds for divorce?? 🤣🤣

Tatapie · 04/04/2023 22:43

LeFeu · 04/04/2023 13:17

Good grief. If someone says to you at the start of April “up to much at half term?” You know what they mean! Wtf does it actually matter???

Nope! I'd have to question whether they meant Easter or May!

SoManyComplications · 04/04/2023 22:48

ConstanceOcean · 04/04/2023 14:49

YABU

Why would you get so irate over something so petty.

I’m a teacher and will often say half term because it is literally half of the term and the topics I teach are half termly.

I think if people get annoyed over something as minor as this then they seriously need to figure out what’s wrong in their lives and maybe get some therapy - not being goady but there’s obviously much more going on.

‘I think if people get annoyed over something as minor as this then they seriously need to figure out what’s wrong in their lives and maybe get some therapy - not being goady but there’s obviously much more going on.’

What a silly little comment. Being irritated by minor stuff is a common human trait. I doubt the OP is screaming into her pillow about this every night. Therapy? Much more going on? What a stupid thing to say.

SoManyComplications · 04/04/2023 22:52

EllandRd · 04/04/2023 16:08

First world problems 🙄

Are you confused and thinking you are posting on Mumsnet, Burundi?

Soozikinzii · 04/04/2023 22:54

I'm glad you've said this because I've noticed just the same here in Wigan !

Tipofthemeltingiceberg · 04/04/2023 22:58

This is a revelation!
My DH does this and it irks the bones of me! I thought he was the only one. Not sure if I’ve found comfort it knowing it’s not just him or despair that I’m clearly fighting a losing battle if it’s a growing trend 🤣😅🤣

Fordian · 04/04/2023 22:59

If you don't have children, or yours are waaay 'post-school'; nobody cares! It's not mis-labelling, say, Diwali, or Ramadan, or Christmas.

It doesn't matter, the 'sanctity' of the end of a actual term.

In 1-9 years time, you won't give a PFF about any of this.

Wha · 04/04/2023 23:19

I keep hearing this too, but only from people who aren’t very bright. I think it comes from the way some state schools have changed their 3 terms (with the 3 half term holidays) to a 6 term structure. So there is no longer any mid-term break a at all, but dumb people still call the shorter holiday ‘half term’ and then started calling all holidays that.

It’s surprisingly annoying, as if people were asking “What did you get for Christmas” when referring to my birthday.

OldSkoolLikeHappyShopper · 04/04/2023 23:24

Oh it’s been going on a while. I started the exact same thread about 5 years ago under a different name.

Jas5mum · 04/04/2023 23:25

Yes exactly!!
This has been winding me up for weeks but thought it was just me!
Its easter holidays...

VestaTilley · 04/04/2023 23:27

YANBU. Are we now becoming so lazy we can’t even refer to holidays in full sentences anymore?

I continue to say the Easter and Christmas holidays.

AchillesElbow · 04/04/2023 23:31

The language schools use is so confusing now no one probably knows where they are. My child’s school has 6 terms but still has a ‘half term’ which comes after a whole term has been completed. We also have summer term and spring term which I know refers to the old 3 term system but maybe some people don’t. We have KS1 & KS2 but also infants and juniors. Anyway, I’m not surprised people are just making things up now.

Imthegingerbreadwoman · 04/04/2023 23:41

I mean... does it matter? Apart from those who go to school no one else really knows or cares if it half term or end of term. And to be honest I have done so many of them now. I can't remember where we are in a term nor care. As long as they are getting their education and are in school when they should be and are happy and learning. Who cares to how a holiday is referred to. So bloody pedantic

RoyGBivisacolorfulman · 04/04/2023 23:52

TheOrigRights · 04/04/2023 12:53

Perhaps people are using 1/2 term as they might be thinking at referring to Christmas holiday or Easter holiday as offensive to some.

Could just call end of term. Half nah!

FrangipaniBlue · 04/04/2023 23:55

For as long as I can remember and since being a child EVERYONE where I live refers to all school holidays except the 6 week "summer holidays" as "half term".

We know it's not strictly correct, but I guess that's the idiosyncrasy of it!!

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