What is the difference between England and Britain?

Answer 1

Great Britain is an island, a geographical term, consisting of Scotland, England and Wales respectively. Great Britain is hence comprised of three nations, England is but one part of the geographical term of Great Britain.

England is one of the three countries within Britain or Great Britain.The other two are Scotland and Wales.Northern Ireland (most of Ulster) is part of the United Kingdoms (UK) and not geographically part of Great Britain (GB).

Hence the following can be summed up as such;

Great Britain (GB);

1. Wales

2. Scotland

3. England

United Kingdoms (UK);

1. Scotland

2. England

3. Wales

4. Northern Ireland (Mainly Ulster, 6 counties)

As you can see, it is advisable to be well aware of the differences between a 'singular term' and a 'collective term', Great Britain is a collective, as it contains three nations within it. The English, the Scots and the Welsh are all singular nations of their own, however they are also all collectively British by geographical heritage.

Much the same way as the Norse, Danes and Swedes are all nations of their own too, but also they are all geographically, collectively 'Scandinavian', just as the Scots, English and Welsh are all 'British'.

As you can see, 'British' and 'Scandinavian' are collective terms.

Answer 2

England is a country, and Britain is a group of countries, England, Wales, Scotland and northern ireland.