Posted by andyb on January 02, 2007 at 10:15:22 from 194.80.183.1 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Britain was Re: Grammar posted by Brad H on January 02, 2007 at 03:38:15:
I'll be bold, or foolish, and open the batting. 'Great' Britain refers to 'big' Britain, the 'rightmost island' as opposed to 'little' Britain, Brittany, the western peninsula of France not the the well-known television programme nor yet the even better known singer. Properly, I am a citizen, no a subject of? The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island. This means that the big island is called Britain, the abbreviations UK and GB are synonymous and refer to the political entity comprising the big island, part of the next biggest island and many smaller ones, and you can call the whole archipelego 'The British Isles' after carefully assessing the Irishness of your audience and their likley reaction.
OK what comes next, a bouncer or a googley?