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The '''British Isles''' is the term commonly used, though not accepted by many people in Ireland, to identify the group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe consisting of ], ] and the many smaller adjacent islands. These islands are an ] off the west coast of Europe, 315,134 km<sup>2</sup> (121,674 square miles), consisting of: The '''British Isles''' is a term commonly used to identify the group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe consisting of ], ] and the many smaller adjacent islands. These islands are an ] off the west coast of Europe, 315,134 km<sup>2</sup> (121,674 square miles), consisting of:


* ] * ]
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The term "British Isles", despite the politically suggestive use of "]", refers to these islands as a geographical--not a political--unit, although the Channel Islands are only included due to their political association. The term "British Isles", despite the politically suggestive use of "]", refers to these islands as a geographical--not a political--unit, although the Channel Islands are only included due to their political association.
⚫ Politically, the group of islands is divided between the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ].
The last three of these are British crown dependencies, but not part of the United Kingdom.


⚫ Politically, the group of islands is divided between the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ]. The last four of these are not part of the United Kingdom, although the last three are British crown dependencies.
⚫ Many people in ] and the Irish diaspora dislike the term "British Isles" because it may suggest that Ireland is, or should be, part

of the United Kingdom.
⚫ Many people in ] and the Irish diaspora dislike the term "British Isles" because they think it may suggest that Ireland is, or should be, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In cases where what is being referred to is the two largest islands, the term "Great ]" can be used. Of course, in those cases, the term "British Isles" would not be appropriate to begin with. In cases where what is being referred to is the two largest islands, the term "Great ]" can be used. Of course, in those cases, the term "British Isles" would not be appropriate to begin with.
Unfortunately there is no suitably brief term to refer to the island group as a whole; "Great Britain, Ireland, and surrounding islands" gets at the basic meaning, but at the cost of conciseness. Some writers may choose to avoid referring to the island group as a whole in order to avoid giving offense, although there are of course cases where this cannot be done while preserving the intended meaning. There is no other brief term in common use to refer to the island group as a whole; "Great Britain, Ireland, and surrounding islands" gets at the basic meaning, but at the cost of conciseness. Some writers may choose to avoid referring to the island group as a whole in order to avoid giving offense, although there are of course cases where this cannot be done while preserving the intended meaning.


In the context of the Northern Ireland peace process the term "]" (IONA) has been used as a neutral term to describe these islands. In the context of the Northern Ireland peace process the term "]" (IONA) has been used as a neutral term to describe these islands.

Revision as of 14:55, 13 June 2003


The British Isles is a term commonly used to identify the group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland and the many smaller adjacent islands. These islands are an archipelago off the west coast of Europe, 315,134 km (121,674 square miles), consisting of:

and many other smaller islands surrounding the islands of Great Britain and Ireland.

The term "British Isles", despite the politically suggestive use of "British", refers to these islands as a geographical--not a political--unit, although the Channel Islands are only included due to their political association.

Politically, the group of islands is divided between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The last four of these are not part of the United Kingdom, although the last three are British crown dependencies.

Many people in Ireland and the Irish diaspora dislike the term "British Isles" because they think it may suggest that Ireland is, or should be, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In cases where what is being referred to is the two largest islands, the term "Great Britain and Ireland" can be used. Of course, in those cases, the term "British Isles" would not be appropriate to begin with. There is no other brief term in common use to refer to the island group as a whole; "Great Britain, Ireland, and surrounding islands" gets at the basic meaning, but at the cost of conciseness. Some writers may choose to avoid referring to the island group as a whole in order to avoid giving offense, although there are of course cases where this cannot be done while preserving the intended meaning.

In the context of the Northern Ireland peace process the term "Islands of the North Atlantic" (IONA) has been used as a neutral term to describe these islands.