Great Britain or United Kingdom

 I've used the term 'Great Britain' for many years. It's a historical term and high-school students are familiar with it from their history classes thus they know what country is being referred to. Previously I used 'England' but that's not correct anymore, since it leaves out Scotland and Wales. Recently I was informed that 'United Kingdom'  is the official correct term. However most high-school students will be lost, they won't know what nation is being referred to, if that term is used. At least that's been my experience. I'm wondering which term people in this forum prefer to use, "Great Britain" or "United Kingdom" ?

Wow so complex even a scotchman gets it wrong.

I was always under the impression that "Great Britain" reffered to England, Scotland and Wales (notice how in offical documents and stuff they often put "...and Northern Ireland" to the end of this) and that "The united Kingdom" reffered to Great Britain and all of the areas in the world that are administered by her.

That's true - and I can confirm that the foreign office is more or less the same, except with slightly more pompous crown employees and the room is even stuffier

Great Britain refers to the island of Britain itself, Europe's largest. It is called "Great" to distinguish it from the the French region of the Bretons. So Great Britain simply refers to the one big island, not including Northern Ireland as this is not a land of the Britons/Bretons. UK is inclusive of Northern Ireland.

Yes, there was th union of the crowns in 1603 under James VI\I and the treaty of union in 1707 which united the parliaments.

Great Britain refers to the territory which constitutes the main island so Pikeshot is right in that the UK can be considered a more political name. 

They are separate entities which fall under the Crown but are not considered part of the UK, IIRC.

The Channel Islanders consider themselves as British - when they feel like it, for they do travel on a British passport, but are known to poke fun at "the English". They speak English but also have their own language said to be an ancient form of French, but in my opinion is closer to the original Celtic. Guernsey, Jersey, Jethou, Sark, Herm and Alderney are the islands in question but few can name them. They were the only British possesion occupied by the Germans during WWII. I must say I love the islands because living there is like taking a step back in time.

Thanks for clearing that up for me elenos.  I have often wondered what the islanders thoughts on nationality were.  Island life did not suit me, due to the isolation from the "rest of the world" but the community spirit and closeness was a wonderful thing. 

Politically, there was no union between the kingdoms under either James or Charles I. The only time before 1707 when political union was at hand was under the Commonwealth when Ireland and Scotland were utterly defeated, however this was also ultimately out of reach.