PLT OF A PIPER PA28 QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF HIS CLRNC INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE DUE TO THE CTLR ONLY ISSUING VECTORS INTO THE AIRSPACE AND NOT INCLUDING THE PHRASE 'CLRED.'

Narrative

ON A BUSY FRIDAY AFTERNOON; I TOOK OFF FROM FME (TIPTON AIRFIELD) IN FORT MEADE; MD. AFTER LISTENING TO THE BWI ATIS; I CONTACTED BWI APCH CTL ON 119.7. I GAVE THEM MY LOCATION (OVER FT MEADE); MY ALT (1300 FT MSL); AND MY INTENTIONS (INBOUND TO BALTIMORE). THE APCH CTLR TOLD ME TO EXPECT RWY 33R. AFTER CIRCLING TIPTON FOR ABOUT 10 OR MORE MINS; I CONTACTED BWI APCH AGAIN TO BE SURE THEY HADN'T FORGOTTEN ME. I WAS WAITING FOR MY CLRNC INTO CLASS B AND A VECTOR FOR SEQUENCE IN TO RWY 33R. THE CLASS B FLOOR ABOVE TIPTON IS 1500 FT MSL. THE APCH CTLR INQUIRED ABOUT MY SQUAWK EVEN THOUGH I WAS NEVER GIVEN THIS OVER THE FREQ. OTHER VFR TFC HAD BEEN ASSIGNED BEACON CODES AFTER ME AS IF THE CTLR RESERVED A CODE BUT DID NOT RELAY IT TO ME. THEN HE PROCEEDED TO DIRECT ME TO FLY A HDG OF 100 DEGS AND CLB AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT. I WASN'T GIVEN CLRNC INTO CLASS B. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AND THE CTLR RESPONDED WITH THE TERM 'VECTORS INTO CLASS B.' I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A VECTOR INTO CLASS B IS AN ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTION FOR THE WORDS 'YOU ARE CLRED INTO CLASS B.' THIS ONLY ADDS CONFUSION AND HESITATION. I THINK THE HIGH WORKLOAD AT THE TIME WAS THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS SIT.