On or in Iceland

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States that are also islands - is it considered correct English to use "on" or "in"? In or on Iceland?Thanks

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[nq:1]States that are also islands - is it considered correct English to use "on" or "in"? In or on Iceland?[/nq]
In Iceland. It's a country, like Ireland, not just a rock in the sea. But you may come across examples of "on Iceland". It's not wrong, but Icelanders don't like it.
Am I right in thinking that Americans tend to use "on" more than Brits for islands? Do they say "on Cyprus" for instance?
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Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]States that are also islands - is it considered correct English to use "on" or "in"? In or on Iceland?[/nq]
[nq:1]In Iceland. It's a country, like Ireland, not just a rock in the sea. But you may come across examples ... in thinking that Americans tend to use "on" more than Brits for islands? Do they say "on Cyprus" for instance?[/nq]
Not that I have ever heard, but the people I converse with don't talk about Cyprus very much, so I don't know how others say it. Of the island nations that we do speak of occasionally; "in Ireland", or "in Australia", or "in Cuba", is the way we would say it.

Bill

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]States that are also islands - is it considered correct English to use "on" or "in"? In or on Iceland?[/nq]
[nq:1]In Iceland. It's a country, like Ireland, not just a rock in the sea. But you may come across examples ... in thinking that Americans tend to use "on" more than Brits for islands? Do they say "on Cyprus" for instance?[/nq]
It is my feeling that US speakers say "in" when they are talking about nations and states, and "on" when talking about islands (if the islands are singular). Iceland, being a nation would normally be "in Iceland". But "on Cyprus" would be correct until it is re-unified under one government. Still, with Ireland, I would say "in" divided though it might be, as with Greenland.
"In" is probably safer in most cases, but a little tolerance is allowed. "In Hawaii" allows one to be somewhere "on" any number of the several islands in the state, while "on the big island" specifies which island one is riding. "In Puerto Rico" is the usual reference.

I wonder how the Brits refer to being "in" or "on" the Falklands? I think I would say "in", finding it difficult to be "on" more than one at a time.

Keep in mind that among many in the US, geography isn't a strong point, not to mention geo-politics.

Usenet · Answer

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004, in alt.usage.english, Pat Durkin (Email Removed) writes
[nq:1]It is my feeling that US speakers say "in" when they are talking about nations and states, and "on" when ... is re-unified under one government. Still, with Ireland, I would say "in" divided though it might be, as with Greenland.[/nq]
I would tend to say "on" a small island (e.g. Jersey), but "in" Australia. However, I have heard people say they are "in" the (Channel) Islands.

Mark Browne
If replying by email, please use the "Reply-To" address, as the "From" address will be rejected

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]States that are also islands - is it considered correct English to use "on" or "in"? In or on Iceland?[/nq]
[nq:1]In Iceland. It's a country, like Ireland, not just a rock in the sea. But you may come across examples of "on Iceland". It's not wrong, butIcelanders don't like it.[/nq]
I would like to suggest that it is not necessarily a question of whether the island is a nation state. It is more a question of how difficult it would be to find somebody there, once you have arrived on the island to search for him.
Imagine yourself going to the island in question, and trying to find a friend who is there on a visit. For Iceland, there would be little hope of finding your friend, without further instructions such as "In the supermarket on the main street of Akureyri". Because you need to have further detailed instructions to find your man, you should use "in". On the other hand, if you could easily find your friend, simply by going to the island, you should use "on". Thus, you would say "He's on St Kilda", because the island of St Kilda is sufficiently small that it would be easy to find your man from these instructions alone.
Applying this principle, I would say "in Ibiza", "in Tenerife", etc., even though these are not actually nation states. I would probably say "on Gomera", which is a smaller island next to Tenerife.

Richard Chambers Leeds UK.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I would like to suggest that it is not necessarily a question of whether the island is a nation state. ... how difficult it would be to find somebody there, once you have arrived on the island to search for him.[/nq]
I find myself hesitating over Greenland & Antarctica. These days, there are always some English-speaking people there. What do they say?

Joe Fineman (Email Removed)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I would like to suggest that it is not necessarily ... you have arrived on the island to search for him.[/nq]
[nq:1]I find myself hesitating over Greenland & Antarctica. These days, there are always some English-speaking people there. What do they say?[/nq]
Well, I spent a year at Thule Air Base in Greenland.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]States that are also islands - is it considered correct English to use "on" or "in"? In or on Iceland?[/nq]
[nq:1]In Iceland. It's a country, like Ireland, not just a rock in the sea. But you may come across examples ... in thinking that Americans tend to use "on" more than Brits for islands? Do they say "on Cyprus" for instance?[/nq]
Yes, you are right, but include the Irish with the British. Some time ago, when group members tended to discuss more scholarly things than they do today, several of us were discussing which was the right word with the honorable Padraig of Ireland, now departed. He told us it is common for an Irishman to say he lived in Achill Island. That would sound very strange to American ears. An American would say he lived in Ireland though. For the American, the size of the island would make a difference.

Charles Riggs
My email address: chriggs¦at¦eircom¦dot¦net

On or in Iceland

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