Indeed, U.S.A. is not America!
America is the name of a whole continent. United States of America means that the United States belongs to America and NOT that America belongs to the United States. So, next time you want to refer to The United States of America, you can do it as U.S. or the States or whatever you want but not as only America. Gotcha?
How should I use the term America then?
Here we will show you some wrong and correct uses of the term America:
This is how we do it in America.
This is how we do it in the States.
- America is my country and I love it.
- The United States is my country and I love it.
- America lost the Vietnam war.
- U.S.A. lost the Vietnam war.
- Here in America we love Mc Donald's.
- Here in the U.S. we love Mc Donald's.
Please, note that this page in not about demonyms (gentilics) but about the way to call a country.
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Comments (1251)
As Washington’s generation well knew, the United States didn’t cover the whole of the Americas. Hence their use of other names: the United States, the Republic, the Union. 16th century Europeans referred to the 'New World' as AMÉRICA and their inhabitants as AMERICANS. The name AMÉRICA existed almost 270yrs before the United States of AMÉRICA existed. The U.S.A. hasn't changed the name in 245yrs. The Continent's name hasn't changed in 515yrs.
These are ALL FACTS, non-biased statements. There's anecdotal evidence but I wouldn't consider it. The following are still OFFICIAL TERMS.
‘America’ originally referred only to South America. The word doesn’t refer to just one thing. Get your facts straight.
Correct, AMÉRICA use to refer to the area where Brasil is now at one point. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Shoot, you just gave me an idea. Instead of naming my boy Turok, I'm going to name him Américo.
and what was north america called when America only meant south america? was it called Parias?
The words United Colonies were used by the Congress when it appointed George Washington as commander in chief in June 1775. The abbreviation U.S.A. had its origins as a way that government inspectors approved official gunpowder. The army needed to have inspectors verify that gunpowder met standards, and it stamped “U.S.A.” on the casks as a mark, starting in August 1776. Some people were using America at the time, but not globally. George Washington didn’t use the word in his first inaugural address or in his farewell address. He called his country the United States or he called it the Union, NEVER AMERICA. He did so for a reason, “these epithets equally belong to Labrador(Canada) and Paraguay and their natives.”
In June 1776, Thomas Jefferson's draft version of the Declaration started with the following sentence: “A Declaration of the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress assembled.” The final version of the Declaration starts with the date July 4, 1776 and the following statement: “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.” As you can see for yourselves, the authors & Founding Fathers of the U.S.A. didn't name the country, AMERICA.
Also, the words “United States of America” appeared in the first draft of the Articles of Confederation on July 8, 1776, as it was submitted to Congress.
América definitely is NOT a country. Furthermore, 'American' is NOT a nationality or citizenship. Anyone who uses these 2 terms is due to ignorance, conceitedness, arrogance, laziness, etc., etc..
The United States of AMÉRICA (U.S.A)., SIMPLY means we're STATES, that are UNITED, on the Continent of AMÉRICA. Nothing more. There are 35 countries in AMÉRICA. An American is an individual who was born/lives on the Continent of AMÉRICA, the American Continent including U.S. Citizens & Canadians.
Other meanings of words don’t cease to exist just because you don’t like them. Deal with it. You aren’t the final arbiter of anything.
I've "dealt" with for a long time. You're insinuating that I'm upset.
"Other meanings of words don’t cease to exist just because you don’t like them". I thought you said I was posting something you already knew? Did you read my comments thoroughly? Right, AGAIN, AMÉRICA hasn't changed meaning for the past 515yrs. It was named 270yrs before the United States existed. Why don't you like this FACT?
America is a continent. The United States is in America. Guatemala is in America. Paraguay is in America. So the word "America" of course exists in English.
And, as we all know, ‘America’ most often refers to the USA in English.
David, sorry Morgan?
You’re a genius.
You can always recognize me as the one who supplies facts. You are always recognized by your lies, bias, ignorance, simple-mindedness, pettiness, and BS. Good job. You’re doing it!!!
Really HU??
Melanie Adele Martinez
Nationality: United Statian
https://melanie-martinez.fandom.com/wiki/Melanie_Martinez
How are the United Statians doing in the Olympics this time?
Not bad
En inglés no hay nada que se llame solo América, hay un continente llamado "South America", otro continente llamado "North America" y un país llamado "United States of America", este último ALGUNAS VECES los estadounidenses lo suelen acortar como "America".
North America is not a continent, South America is not a continent as neither East Europe, North Africa nor South Asia are continents. America being in North America doesn't make sense.
Lol Andy! The only statement that I agree with you on from that comment is “America being in North America doesn't make sense.”!
North America and South America are 2 continents. I don’t even care who thinks/says there are 7 continents, 6 continents, 5 continents or 4 continents.
Those who say America is a single continent are not wrong. Those who say America is 2 continents (that being North America and South America) are not wrong either. Only those who say “America is a single country and refers to USA only” are absolutely the ignorant and the only people who are wrong.
East Europe, North Africa and South Asia will never be continents but may be viewed as regions of Europe, Africa and Asia!
North and South America can be viewed as 2 continents and together they form their singular name America! They can also be viewed as a single continent and together they still form their singular name America!!!
America is a continent not two, if North Africa and South Asia aren't continents North America and South America are neither.
Lol Andy! North America and South America don’t have to be the same word - (such as 'Region') - as it is for West Europe, North Africa and South Asia.
America is BOTH 1 continent (a single) and 2 continents (a double) - depending on what continent model each country uses! The only 1 thing though I will make clear is:
All of us (as in you, me and most others everywhere) will agree that America is forever the name of the New World! The name/demonym cannot refer to only 1 country by itself and cannot be used for a single country’s nationality (in this case, USA)! North America and South America will always remain inside of America and they will never depart away from Logic! Logic works in all languages, period!
On this website itself, the name "US American" is suggested for the nationality of someone from The United States of America, but for that, a new abbreviation of their full name should also be proposed: "US America"
They should drop the "of America" part already or transdorm it to United States of Middle North America.
Lol Andy!
Renaming the country as …
United States of Middle North America …
is a more dumber/stupider name than United States of America.
They should instead transdorm or change their current name to United States of Usonia!
I can do fun logic with “United States of Middle North America” if I have to!
whatever... United States
It is a more logical name. USA is literally in the middle of North America.
Do you fun logic: I will wait.