Is America a continent? Why do people refere to the U.S.A. as America?

Question

The United States of America is a country in North America.
America could either be "North America" or "South America". Both which have multiple countries within them.

I think that the closest term should be 'U. S. Citizens".

Answer 1

Because we are the only country in either North or South America that uses the word America in it's name. Therefore it's just a shortened name.

Answer 2

America is part of the North American Continent, it is called America, because it's correct name is the United States of America, it has been shortened to America for the ease of other countries world wide since trying to say United States of America is a bit of a mouth full for a non-English speaking person.

I guess if you want to be completely correct the founding fathers should have named it The United States of North America, but i don't think they were too concerned or knowledgeable about South America at the time.

If you want to attempt to change it, then I suggest to give her a shot and see what you come up with.

Answer 3

America is a continent. North America and South America are like the countries. Simply easy ways of locating.

Answer 4

Being that we're centrally located between Canada and South America, the USA would be better titled The United States of Central America. Canada would be considered North America, and South America would retain its title.

Answer 5

Hello..Obviously, it's not accurate people to refer to USA as a compound America. With certainty, America as a continent has North and South parts and encompass multiple countries. I behold that as a mistaken "category" USA = America and preposterous..I fully agree with your opinion..

Answer 6

Because the people of the U.S. have been referred to as Americans for so long, so goes the name of the country. It rolls off the tongue much easier than United Statesians. Canadians have a name that goes with the country nice and easy, Brazilians, Chileans, all these names goes nice and easy with their country because it's just one word. Maybe you could start calling them U.s.ans and see if it catches on.

Answer 7

Bigotry. "we are America" they say. A lot of americans don't even know that Canada exists and they know of Mexico only because of the illegal aliens. Key word "alien". Like they could be from the moon. South America doesn't exist.

Answer 8

Because they are the dominant military and political power,
Brazil is on the far far second place and the rest has no voting rights.
That fills their egoism, when you see some scifi movie,why is always first contact with americans( citizens of USA), if some come they will try to intercede for entire earth.

Answer 9

They are lazy. They cut off the US part and because the pronoun USA (although I've been called that) sounds silly.

It's not arrogance ether... think about it.

Who lives in Germany.. Germans...
France... Franch
Canada... Canadians
Mexico... Mexicans...

People should think before they make stupid assumptions.

Besides, most US citizens use they're state name when describing themselves...

This question/argument is silly.

Answer 10

We dont call people from the Congo Demacratic Republic of the Congians. Same reason why they refer to us as America. People are lazy and abriviations are fun!