"When people say England, they sometimes mean Great Britain, sometimes the United Kingdom, sometimes the British Isles, - but never England"

This quote by George Mikes is a funny method of mentioning the confusion that can occur when people utilize the terms England, Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles interchangeably. The quote is saying that while these terms are typically used interchangeably, they are not the exact same. England is a country within the United Kingdom, which is a sovereign state comprised of 4 nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Excellent Britain is the name of the island that consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. The British Isles is a geographical term that consists of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, and lots of smaller islands. For that reason, when individuals say England, they might imply Great Britain, the United Kingdom, or the British Isles, but never just England.