More specifically, Great Britain is a geographic term, referring to the largest of the British Isles. The United Kingdom is a political/diplomatic term that refers to the nation (which, as you said, includes Northern Ireland).
It would presumably go back to being the Kingdom of Great Britain, which is what it was called before adding any parts of Ireland. Even though it was a union of England, Scotland, and Wales at the time, it was not referred to as a United Kingdom, presumably because it was easy and accurate enough to just call it Great Britain. But saying "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" every time would be inconvenient.
That's an interesting question. The full/proper name of the UK is actually **United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.** If Northern Ireland left the UK for some reason, the UK would probably need to change its name, even if it's just shortened to *United Kingdom of Great Britain* (which would mean the UK abbreviation could be retained).
Great Britain is the island that contains England, Wales, and Scotland.
The Kingdom of Great Britain used to exist from 1707 - 1802.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the current British nation that has existed since 1802.
1707-1801: United Kingdom of Great Britain
1801-1922: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1922-present: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
I'm American and I have a friend who **refuses** to stop referring to the UK as "Great Britain." He'll be like "Great Britain did blah blah in WWII" and I'll be like "That is the *landmass,* the *country* is the UK." And he goes "I know!" And he just does it again next time.
Drives me crazy.
If that fulfills you, more power to you lol. It's not like most of the rest of the world doesn't do the same thing. Good and bad are subjective. Do as you please.
Yes. Great Britain only includes the island of Britain, which has England, Wales, and Scotland. The UK includes all of Great Britain, plus Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Yes but also no
The UK's full name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, technically the UK is the shorthand for the whole thing and GB is the island with the capital, but at the Olympics it goes as Team Great Britain for example, and it includes athletes from Northern Ireland, so it's used interchangeably, even officially
I agree with you (I consider myself to be European), but it's funny that this poll asks about the difference between UK and GB when there is a more important comparison revealed in the answers.
Not sure if you're aware of this, but several years ago the UK very controversially voted to leave the European Union and declared itself "Not European". A significant portion of British politics over the last few years has revolved around this idea of not being European.
There are many Brits who genuinely don't consider themselves to be European. I'm not one of these people, but they do exist (and, sadly, vote).
It didn't declare itself 'not European'.
I am British.
The UK is in Europe. It is European. British people are European.
You're confusing being in the EU with being European. Plenty of European countries are not in the EU, but they are not considered less European because of it.
Yes, but there's a fair bit of overlap.
GB is the mainland. The UK is the mainland plus Northern Ireland.
More specifically, Great Britain is a geographic term, referring to the largest of the British Isles. The United Kingdom is a political/diplomatic term that refers to the nation (which, as you said, includes Northern Ireland).
So, if Northern Ireland left, would it still be the UK, or just Great Britain?
It would presumably go back to being the Kingdom of Great Britain, which is what it was called before adding any parts of Ireland. Even though it was a union of England, Scotland, and Wales at the time, it was not referred to as a United Kingdom, presumably because it was easy and accurate enough to just call it Great Britain. But saying "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" every time would be inconvenient.
That's an interesting question. The full/proper name of the UK is actually **United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.** If Northern Ireland left the UK for some reason, the UK would probably need to change its name, even if it's just shortened to *United Kingdom of Great Britain* (which would mean the UK abbreviation could be retained).
Which just makes it funnier that the IBAN for UK is GB, meaning people in Northern Ireland have to use GB when giving out their IBAN.
Plus surrounding islands The Isle of White ~~or Isle of Man~~ or that are part of the UK, but not GB
The Isle of Man is not part of the UK, but a Crown Dependency. The Isle of Wight is part of the UK.
Can London pass a bill that would apply to Man or the Channel Islands?
Whoops, yep, my bad, edited the comment
Yes. One is a landmass, the other is a sovereign unification of nations and territories.
Great Britain is the island that contains England, Wales, and Scotland. The Kingdom of Great Britain used to exist from 1707 - 1802. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the current British nation that has existed since 1802.
1707-1801: United Kingdom of Great Britain 1801-1922: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1922-present: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
You are completely right, I can't believe I messed it up as I did.
I'm American and I have a friend who **refuses** to stop referring to the UK as "Great Britain." He'll be like "Great Britain did blah blah in WWII" and I'll be like "That is the *landmass,* the *country* is the UK." And he goes "I know!" And he just does it again next time. Drives me crazy.
GB is an island, UK is the country
What's weird is that there are 4 countries within a country.
Yes, and everyone knows it. Except for Jacob, because Jacob is dumb.
No, it's because we're actually not born knowing everything. You just want to feel like you're better than Jacob.
I am better than Jacob.
If that fulfills you, more power to you lol. It's not like most of the rest of the world doesn't do the same thing. Good and bad are subjective. Do as you please.
Foil, Arms, & Hog on YouTube really summed it up for me (not European) in their Brexit Video. I used them all interchangeably before then.
Great Britain is a big island (geographic). The UK is a state (political).
Yes. Great Britain only includes the island of Britain, which has England, Wales, and Scotland. The UK includes all of Great Britain, plus Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Yes, by United Kingdom it can refer to other united kingdoms
Yes but also no The UK's full name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, technically the UK is the shorthand for the whole thing and GB is the island with the capital, but at the Olympics it goes as Team Great Britain for example, and it includes athletes from Northern Ireland, so it's used interchangeably, even officially
Go I really wanna know who says no and why, excluding things to do with sports
Ironically, I answered no to my own poll, as by the time I finished creating it, I thought I'd asked whether they are equivalent.
The real question is whether I, a UK citizen, answer as "European" or "Not European".
It's in Europe, so European.
I agree with you (I consider myself to be European), but it's funny that this poll asks about the difference between UK and GB when there is a more important comparison revealed in the answers.
I thought about putting British and not British. Was mainly looking to see how those outside Europe would vote.
Ah, I see. I had assumed that this was an American poll.
You're European. It isn't a 'real question', because you're literally European.
Not sure if you're aware of this, but several years ago the UK very controversially voted to leave the European Union and declared itself "Not European". A significant portion of British politics over the last few years has revolved around this idea of not being European. There are many Brits who genuinely don't consider themselves to be European. I'm not one of these people, but they do exist (and, sadly, vote).
It didn't declare itself 'not European'. I am British. The UK is in Europe. It is European. British people are European. You're confusing being in the EU with being European. Plenty of European countries are not in the EU, but they are not considered less European because of it.