A Total Confusion for Foreigners

Click on the purple links to find out more about the confusion that is Britain.

Why is England or the UK sometimes called Britain?
What is the difference between the names? Why are they not the same country?

'When people say England, they sometimes mean Great Britain, sometimes the United Kingdom, sometimes the British Isles - but never England.' 'How to be an Alien' by George Mikes

Questions about Britain for students to answer

"England" is sometimes, wrongly, used in reference to the whole United Kingdom, the entire island of Great Britain (or simply Britain), or indeed the British Isles. This is not only incorrect but can cause offence to people from other parts of the UK. ( Nationality of the British people).

The diverse history of England, Scotland and Wales has led to very different cultural traditions; The Scots and Welsh have right to feel aggrieved whenever the term 'English' is used wrongly, to mean all three.

Great Britain, the United Kingdom and the British Isles do not mean the same thing!