Americans - What do you prefer your country to be called ?

I prefer America but realize that can be a much broader term. Beyond that, I'm not really picky. US or USA is fine.
 
USA would be the most precise, and just the "US" also works. As long as you live in the USA, you can call it America when you're talking to a fellow citizen and he will know what you mean, but if you live in Canada, Mexico, or Brazil, it's a bit confusing.

Years ago, my father and I did a canoe trip into Canadian waters of the Quetico Provicial Park, which could be accessed from the USA. On the US side there were a couple of outfitters that rented canoes and everything else you needed, and they billed canoeing in the Quetico as "The Greatest Adventure in America." You had to paddle about 10 or 15 miles to reach a portage that led into Canadian waters, and there was a Canadian Customs Agent living in a small house out in the middle of nowhere, with a check station. He was welcoming and asked where we started from, and I mentioned something about the US outfitter and how they billed this as the "The Greatest Adventure in America," and he laughed and added... "Yeah, just go to Canada."

It was a wonderful trip. We paddled 100 miles and made 25 portages and saw 1 party of 4 other guys during the entire 10 days... but that was many years ago. Last I heard the place was crowded with wall to wall canoes. But the fishing? My father used to talk about how much better the fishing was in HIS youth. We were reeling in Pike and Lake Trout one after another one afternoon, and I asked him if this was as good as the fishing he remembered. His reply was, "Son, I've never seen fishing this good before!"
 
I once referred to Canada on this very forum many years ago.. as North America.. or the people as North Americans. A Canadian woman lost her chit.. and was screaming that under no circumstances were Canadians known as North Americans or Canada known as North America...so I felt my Excellent Scottish Geography teacher didn't know HIS job.. ..:sneaky:

As a non American living outside of the Uk.. I'd prefer to call the USA.. the name most Americans prefer.. so if I say the USA, the US..or America.. that will be ok ?
 
I find myself using the term "the States" a lot but it really doesn't matter to me. (I heard recently that the term "U.S." could also sometimes refer to Mexico, since their official name is "the United Mexican States"; I never knew that.)
 
hollydolly said:
As a non American living outside of the Uk.. I'd prefer to call the USA.. the name most Americans prefer.. so if I say the USA, the US..or America.. that will be ok ?
Click to expand...
Of course, that will be OK. :) Facts should always be ok and among other things we are the United States of America!

Well, maybe not as united as we once were but still USA. US and America are OK with me too.
 
Lee said:
North America is a continent. Canada is a country, as is the United States.
Click to expand...
Depends on who you ask...

"The United Nations formally recognizes "North America" as comprising three areas: Northern America, Central America, and the Caribbean."
 
hollydolly said:
I once referred to Canada on this very forum many years ago.. as North America.. or the people as North Americans. A Canadian woman lost her chit.. and was screaming that under no circumstances were Canadians known as North Americans or Canada known as North America...so I felt my Excellent Scottish Geography teacher didn't know HIS job.. ..:sneaky:

As a non American living outside of the Uk.. I'd prefer to call the USA.. the name most Americans prefer.. so if I say the USA, the US..or America.. that will be ok ?
Click to expand...
Canada, the U.S.A., and what is called Central America, are all on the North American Continent. So, essentially, you were absolutely correct, Holly.
 
Murrmurr said:
I don't know if this is just a regional thing, but most people I talk to who were born in America say "US" and all the people who immigrated here say "America."
Click to expand...
my thoughts too.

North America is a continent, and these are the countries in it.
iu
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top