Joann Watson, age 15, of Jamestown, N.Y., for her question:

IS 'UNITED KINGDOM' OR 'GREAT BRITAIN' CORRECT?

Officially the nation's name is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and it is a union of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The term "Great Britain" is commonly used in place of the more official "United Kingdom."

King James I used the term "United Kingdom" as early as 1604 to show that the kingdoms of England and Scotland were joined under his rule. But it was not until 1707 that the Act of Union formed the Kingdom of Great Britain. An act of 1800 formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with the unified parliament.

The term "United Kingdom" became inappropriate when the larger part of Ireland won independence in 1921 and became the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland). Six counties in northeastern Ireland remained with Great Britain. They formed Northern Ireland.

The Royal Titles Act of 1927 dropped the words United Kingdom but the phrase was used again during World War II.

The full title was confirmed following the Royal Titles Act of 1953. By this act, Queen Elizabeth II became "by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."