Is the United Kingdom also known as the British Isles, or was this ever the case?

ak2

Yes. The term "the British Isles" is properly used to refer to the group of islands that comprises Ireland and the United Kingdom. However, the term is commonly used to identify only Great Britain, and phrases like "the British Isles and Ireland" are sometimes used to solidify this distinction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming_dispute Sep 02 07, 10:19 PM

davejacobs

Haven't we had this before - often? The answer is NO. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom "The British Isles" includes the Republic of Ireland as well as the UK. I've never heard the phrase "The British Isles and Ireland". It would be erroneous because the British Isles already includes Ireland. Sep 03 07, 1:01 AM

billythebrit

The British Isles is a geographical term, normally only seen on maps. It refers to Ireland, Great Britain and some 4,000 small islands dotted about in this part of the North Atlantic. The United Kingdom is a political term and is the union of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. Sep 03 07, 4:10 AM

Baloo55th

In the UK there's no political element attached to the term 'British Isles', but we also don't have the attahment to a nationalism that most other countries seem to have. We don't particularly regard ourselves as British in the way that for example Americans regard themselves as American. We don't bother with flag worship and so on. Only when it comes to football do some of us (not me!) get nationalistic. Exceptions are the BNP (a tiny minority) and occasions when the Frogs and Huns are seen to be getting uppity. Geographically, British Isles includes Ireland - both bits of it. I've never heard of the term 'British Isles and Ireland' before. But to answer the question, no. The United Kingdom has never been called the British Isles. As Billy points out, one is geographical and the other political. Part of the present UK was once the United Kingdom of Great Britain, but Isles has never been any part of the political designation. And apart from Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles are also part of the British Isles but not part of the United Kingdom. Sep 03 07, 8:01 AM