Would someone explain when it is permissable to use the term "Scottish", or "Scotch"? referring to Scots?

2009-07-07T04:28:42Z

My family has been in the 'new world' for 200 years, and I always 'heard' "Scotch" or "Scotch-Irish" when the heritage of the McAlisters, McAvoys or McMeens was described. I think it is difficult for people insensitive to the distinction to hear the difference between "Scots" and "Scotch". So, I offended a more recent immigrant from that part of the world by using the word "Scotch".

2009-07-07T04:30:45Z

I thank one and all for clarifying.

Anonymous2009-07-07T05:03:44Z

Favorite Answer

Scotch is a old term no longer used in Scotland or elsewhere for that matter to describe the people. Could be considered offensive, even if purely unintentional.

The term used to describe the people is Scottish or Scots.

Scotch is used for products like Scotch whisky, Scotch beef, Scotch porridge oats and so on.

Scotch-Irish is a term dating from old times found in America. No one will know what you are on about in Scotland if you used that. The equivalent of Scotch-Irish term/people here is Ulster-Scots.

See the links for more.

10

Dogbreath2009-07-07T12:14:06Z

Scotch is generally the whiskey, also known as Scotch Whiskey

Scotch is just the old way of saying Scottish.

"Scots" refers to the English dialect that lowland Scots use, (cf. Robert Burns). .

John Kenneth Galbraith, the economist, wrote a book called "The Scotch" which was actually about where he grew up in Ontario in Canada.

We Americans get dumped on for using the old constructions that suddenly those in the UK view as wrong. We seldom got the memo.

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Anonymous2009-07-07T14:16:59Z

Scotch is a drink, Scots is acceptable but Scottish is correct.

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Lucy in the Sky...2009-07-07T11:19:38Z

I use Scottish or Scot... Scotch to me sounds like alcohol, not a person!

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twistedshower2009-07-07T11:43:08Z

I am Scottish and I absolutely HATE when people say Scotch! Ignorant and rude! Please don't use it - so annoying to Scottish people! Scot is OK Scotch is a NO NO!

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