Are the terms ‘British’ and ‘English’ interchangeable, or do they technically have different uses

by admin on 2010/12/01

You know how 'oriental' refers to rugs, while 'asian' refers to someone of asian descent?

Just wondering if there's the same sort of thing about 'British' and 'English', or are they completely interchangeable?

Thanks!

Tagged as: Different, interchangeable, technically, terms, They, uses

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

IsClareLike December 1, 2010 at 1:55 pm: British refers to someone, or something from either England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
English refers to someone, or something from England…

Britain and England are not the same place, but England is in Britain
simple as…
C dubs December 1, 2010 at 2:06 pm: Great Britain is a country made up England, Wales, Scottland, and Northern Ireland.
No. British and English are not nessesarily interchangeable. They both can refer to either people or things.
not everthing (or everyone) that comes from Britain comes from England.

i’m guessing you’re not British, are you?
Asta M December 1, 2010 at 2:09 pm: No, they’re not interchangeable.

English = from England

British = from Great Britain = from England, Scotland and Wales, and [depending on your viewpoint] Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s inclusion is a contentious question, which goes to the heart of the troubles. Officially nationals of Northern Ireland are British, though many republicans resent this and insist on putting Irish on forms.

[As kids we were always taught that the UK = Great Britain + Northern Ireland. Car registrations, for example, are "GB" for England, Scotland, Wales and "NI" for Northern Ireland - but their status officially remains British, unless you are Republican]
11deadlysinz December 1, 2010 at 2:48 pm: no cos Britain is England, wales, Scotland and northern island.
and England is just England.
both share the same capital London and money the pound. but you cannot interchange them. a welsh person is not English but is British. Edinburgh (Scotland) is not a city in England but it is a city of Britain.
British refers to all four countries
English refers to England and England alone.
Timberwolf December 1, 2010 at 3:40 pm: Actually, Great Britain is made up of England, Wales and Scotland. The United Kingdom is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.