When Is A Sibling A 'half' Sibling?

[Booldawg]

What is the difference between a 'brother' and 'half brother'?

I know plenty of women that have children by different Fathers, the kids are not referrred to as 'half'. But this seems to be the case if a Father has children with more than one woman.

[hc4361]

One parent in common = half sibling.

[2sp_]

Technically you are a half sibling if you share only one parent. But I know plenty of people who don't like the half bit and refer to their half siblings as brother or sister.

[Baldric]

Any help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibling#Half-sibling

[daffy654]

My two daughters and one son have different dads, they don't refer to themselves as half siblings (neither do I), but in actual terms they are half siblings.

I have 6 full siblings from my mum and dad's marriage and two half brothers from my dad's second marriage.

[Booldawg]

ok, thanks - lol, sounds like it depends on how acceptable the immediate family are of the situation to choose using the term 'half' !

[Kathyan]

My eldest daughter gets really upset if my youngest daughter calls her 'half sister'! She always says that they are sisters.

[Gizmonster]

Agreed with what's already been said - half sibling = one common parent.

I've got 3 sisters ..... technically speaking, I've got 2 half-sisters and one sister, as my 2 olders sisters have a different dad, but we ALWAYS refer to each other as brother and sister, NEVER as half brother/sister.

[andy-hughes]

Similarly, i can't be doing with the 'half' nonsense, or 'step' either.

We have three daughters.

My wife had two of them with her first husband, and we had the thrd together, but they are all my daughters, and they all refer to each other as sisters - and I would take issue with anyone who said different.

When my wife and first married, there was the usual "You'l be wanting 'one of your own' now won't you?" to which i used to reply, "What do your think our daughters are - house guests?"

[ummmm]

I don't consider my children to be half siblings. I gave birth to them and I have brought them up within a family unit.

Both my sons and daughter have, what I consider, half siblings, because they are children brought up in a different household.

I know that technically I'm not correct.

[craft1948]

My daughter has 2 step siblings but always refers to them as her brother and sister.............

[coccinelle]

So what are step siblings?

[hc4361]

John and Joan have a daughter, Jane.
Mark and Mary have a son, Matthew.

John marries Mary, Jane and Matthew are step siblings and step children.

[coccinelle]

So step siblings can marry?

[andy-hughes]

They can, but there might be issued with shared genetics which can cause birth defects if they decide to have children together.

[coccinelle]

But going off hc4361 says; they are in no way related, they aren't half siblings.

[Oleanda]

Step siblings do not share genetics.

[chelle7272]

step siblings would not have any genetic link, half siblings would

[andy-hughes]

You're quite right cochinelle, I was not paying proper attention!