Calling someone British or English?

Question

Is it wrong to call someone from England, British? Like would it be offensive to them or anything? Same with calling someone from Britain, English? Also, do you refer to those who live in the UK English or British? Just wondering. Thanks in advance! :)

Answer 1

I don't think so that it is wrong if you would be calling someone from different countries. But some say that you are after their money or their riches which makes it seem wrong to their eyes. Actually it all depends on the purpose. if you would like to be friends i think that is great rather than playing around with them. always remember that they also have feelings. your welcome. i hope i helped you.

Answer 2

England is part of Great Britain which consists of England, Scotland and Wales.

Great Britain is in turn part of the United Kingdom which includes Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is in turn part of the geographical area known as the British Isles, which includes Ireland, the southern part of which is the Republic of Ireland which is independent from the United Kingdom.

Some English people insist on being called English rather than British, while others don't mind.

If someone is British they may be Scottish or Welsh and in many cases would rather be called that than British. They'd certainly object to being called English.

If someone is from the UK they could be English, or belong to any of the other nations in the UK, and a person from Northern Ireland might identify with being in the UK or being Irish, according to their cultural background.

Best let the person say what they're most happy with.

Personally, I'm English, although I have no objection to being called British.

When asked to put my nationality on a form I put 'British' or 'UK'.

It is quite acceptable to put 'English', 'Welsh' or 'Scottish' as your nationality when filling in official forms.

Answer 3

We Americans tend to use the term "British" for English people, and that is fine.

Most Scottish or Welsh people prefer to be known as such, although technically they are also "British"

Call a Scotsman "English" and you might see their violent side.

Answer 4

No, I don't think it's offensive. I grew up in England and most Americans I knew called me British and I was not offended. Some of my relatives came from England and they refer to themselves, as well as others from England, as "English," but "British" was just as common to hear. Outside of England, I assume that it's not offensive to call someone British, but I usually refer to him or her by their specific nationality (Scottish, Irish, Welsh), unless they are of mixed descent. ;)

Besides, I hear Americans referring to the English as "Brits" and I don't find that particularly offensive, as I'm sure the English have similar names for Americans.

Answer 5

England is a part of Britain, calling them English or British is fine.

Calling a Scot or Welshman, English is not OK, they should be OK with British.

Think of it this way..... a Texan may be American, a Californian may be American, but you wouldn't call a Texan 'Californian' would you.

Answer 6

Some people from the UK are Irish. Not all Irish are from the UK. No Irish are from Great Britain. All Brits are from the UK although not all Brits are English.

Hope that has cleared that up.

Answer 7

Okay, refer to this map:

http://www.hotelguru.co.uk/images/britai...

The large island on the right is Great Britain.

The small island on the left is the island of Ireland.

The small, upper right portion of the island of Ireland is Northern Ireland.  The rest of the island of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland.  These are usually distinguished by referring to them as just "Ireland" and "Northern Ireland."  There have long been hostilities between the two.  Although anyone from the island of Ireland is "Irish," most people will specify if they happen to be from Northern Ireland, so "Irish" by itself usually means someone from the Republic of Ireland.

The island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland and Wales.

Therefore:

All English people are British.

It is NOT wrong to call someone from England "British."

Some British people are English, but not all of them.

It MAY be wrong to call someone from Britain "English."

All Scottish people are British, but they are not English.

All Welsh people are British, but they are not English.

The United Kingdom includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"Those who live in the UK" could be either British or Northern Irish.  If they are British, they could be either English, Scottish or Welsh.  To confuse things even MORE, many people refer to the entire UK as just "Britain" and residents of Northern Ireland also as "British."  It's all about politics.

I HOPE this clarified things rather than making it worse for you!

Answer 8

not all Englishmen are British but all British are Englishmen

:D