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=wardy= | 15:45 Sat 20th Jan 2007 | Phrases & Sayings
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Is it grammatically incorrect to refer to the British as Great British, and has it ever been used?
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It isn't grammatically wrong but would certainly be extremely unusual in usage terms. In over six decades of avid reading, I have never seen the phrase used in the way you suggest.
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Well thank you for that QM. I have seen great British used (note the lower-case "g"). Perhaps I should start a new trend.

The lower case g seems to suggest that the word 'great' may be referring to something other than British. For example 'In the 1950's, the great British weekend was a train journey to the nearest seaside resort'.
However, there's no such country as Britain.
England + Wales are one unit for personal law/domicile/legal systems.
ADD Scotland, and you get Great Britain.
ADD Northern Ireland [NOT "ULSTER"- that ms 8 counties, not 6] and you get the United Kingdom.
ADD Channel Islands + Isle of Man and you get the British Isles. The UK has responsibility for the extrernal affairs of the islands but they are full self-governing internally.
And Gibraltar? Well, although it's a colony, it counts as part of SW England for EU voting purposes- until the happy day that the UK sees sense and leaves the EU for freedom outside it...

And Gibraltar? Well, it's a colony- but it's added to SW England
I wouldnt mind calling many of you, "Great British persons".

Love to all,

Lm.

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