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The majority of people in the USA say America to refer to the USA too, plus a big portion of people all over the world. It's not a big deal. The USA is the only country in the Americas (north, central and south) that has "America" as part of its official name, so it is not entirely inaccurate.
Why do so many Americans call the UK "Great Britain" or even worse "England"? The answer is of course because it's easy and the audience instantly understands what you are referring to.
Well, the country in reference is comprised of 50 'united' states. So, the country is called 'the United States of America' as in its being a portion of the land mass of 'the Americas'. However, the people of the United States are referred to as 'Americans'. The President of the United States is also referred to as 'the American President'. So, it would naturally follow that 'the United States of America' would be shortened to 'America' or, of course, 'the U.S.A. As has already been pointed out, 'England' and 'Britain' are, likewise, generally used synonymously.
Yes, our official designation is The United States of America, but the continents are all the Americas.
North America, Central America, South America
Whenever I talk to Brits they always refer to the US as America.
Our country isn't really "America", there are many other countries that make up the American continent.
All of them could include "America" in their country names.
The United States aren't "America", we're the many different states on the continent as well as Alaska and Hawaii in the Pacific.
And our country name is The United States of America. Not America.
The name is believed to derive from the the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
There are also other explanations, including being named after the Amerrisque Mountain range in Nicaragua, or after Richard Amerike, a merchant from Bristol, England.
In terms of Britain, we usually call the country the US or USA (United States of America), however in terms of the population they are usually referred to as Americans, although they sometimes can be referred to in relation to a particular state or city, such as a Texan or a New Yorker etc.
The giant land mass of North America, Central America and Southern America is usually referred to as the Americas rather than America.
In terms of America it's just a shortened version of the United States of America, just as the United States (US) is, and in terms of Americans, there is no other word I know of for citizens of the United States of America, so I am not sure what other countries are supposed to call Americans unless you want it to start calling you United Stater's or USAer's.
Is there something else that Americans want to be referred to.
Last edited by Brave New World; 07-26-2023 at 03:22 AM..
The name of the country is The United States. The "of America" is geographic, ie. the continent of the Americas. In that regard, Canada could be called America, or Peru or Mexico.
Calling the US "America" would be like calling Scotland "Britain" or France "Europe."
Every British person I've ever spoken to in the UK has referred to the country as America. Rarely if ever the US.
The name of the country is The United States. The "of America" is geographic, ie. the continent of the Americas. In that regard, Canada could be called America, or Peru or Mexico.
Calling the US "America" would be like calling Scotland "Britain" or France "Europe."
Every British person I've ever spoken to in the UK has referred to the country as America. Rarely if ever the US.
i think nowadays I hear The States more than America.
i think nowadays I hear The States more than America.
Yes, I have heard that as well now that you mention it.
It might be a hold-over WWII thing, sort of like calling us "yanks" how did that even start?; I've read that soldiers from the South, Midwest and West objected to being called yanks, it was puzzling. And continues to this day apparently although I've never been called a yank personally. They'd get a nice little piece of my mind if they did though.
At the grocery store I saw a box of crackers with the label "American crackers" and had to smile. They were what we call saltines.
Sort of like we have English muffins. Yum.
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I've read that soldiers from the South, Midwest and West objected to being called yanks, it was puzzling. And continues to this day apparently although I've never been called a yank personally. They'd get a nice little piece of my mind if they did though. 
