# A ridiculous part of a serious issue: watching U.S. media grapple with the term "Brexit"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-ridiculous-part-of-a-serious-issue-watching-u-s-media-grapple-with-the-term-brexit/759894>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 14, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-ridiculous-part-of-a-serious-issue-watching-u-s-media-grapple-with-the-term-brexit/759894 "2016-07-14T12:14:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-ridiculous-part-of-a-serious-issue-watching-u-s-media-grapple-with-the-term-brexit/759894/1 "2016-07-14T12:14:54Z")

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I notice how both the New York Times and NPR tiptoe around the term Brexit. They put it in quotes, or consistently include a defining statement like “May, coming to the role as England grapples with voting to leave the European Union - the so-called ‘Brexit’.”

I get the need to keep at it because we ‘merkins didn’t know what Brexit even was a few weeks ago. But it feels like the media is also kinda saying "Hey, we’re sorry we have to use this silly-sounding Newsbranding term to discuss this serious issue. It’s not flippin’ Brangelina, people!"

😉 Just me?

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-ridiculous-part-of-a-serious-issue-watching-u-s-media-grapple-with-the-term-brexit/759894/2 "2016-07-14T12:19:00Z")

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Even the Brits don’t like it. It’s just a dumb thing that won’t go away.

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**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-ridiculous-part-of-a-serious-issue-watching-u-s-media-grapple-with-the-term-brexit/759894/3 "2016-07-14T12:24:09Z")

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I’m more concerned that even so-called quality press struggle to understand the difference between England and the UK.

As for Brexit, presumably they think using a slang term is beneath them, but struggle to find a more appropriate term.

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-ridiculous-part-of-a-serious-issue-watching-u-s-media-grapple-with-the-term-brexit/759894/4 "2016-07-14T12:36:19Z")

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I will say this: it has led to some awkward moments if a person hadn’t heard the term, then hears what a serious issue it is.

“Wow, Brexit.”

“…Th’ hell is ‘Brexit,’ a breakfast cereal?”

“No - England’s vote to leave the EU. Has led to economic and political turmoil and promises more of the same for years to come.”

“Oh, shit - I had no idea!”

Etc. Happened to me a few times a few weeks ago. Not much of an issue anymore.