# Why do people think America is a country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782 "2004-08-20T21:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/21 "2004-08-21T01:25:42Z")
> [@fc1114](#): > > Why do people think that America is a country??? Or why do people think it is OK to refer to the USA as ‘America’? > > With all the political ads showing, you hear the candidates saying, America this, America that, America will do this! > > America is not a country - The \*\*United States of America \*\* _ **IS** _ a country. God, you must be a laugh riot at parties. Just so you know, in many (if not most) foreign languages, some varation of “America” is also the common short-form name for the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/22 "2004-08-21T01:41:32Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > It’s even worse than that, **Duke**. It’s actually the [_Estados Unidos Mexicanos_](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html#Govt). “United Mexican States”? Why, there’s no “Mexico” in there at all! Travesty! ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/23 "2004-08-21T02:04:42Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > This has to be the most pedantic complaint I’ve ever seen on the boards, and that’s REALLY saying something. Piker. Apparently, you weren’t around in the good old days, when MPSIMS was home to such scintillating threads as “Last night, the power went out and I missed the last five minutes of Scooby Doo.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/24 "2004-08-21T02:12:14Z")
On the one hand, I’m kind of glad that I read through this retarded thread and found that my fellow members have taken care of a problem child. On the other hand, I’m somewhat annoyed that I had to read through a retarded thread. I’m conflicted. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/25 "2004-08-21T02:58:07Z")
While we’re at it, why do people insist on saying “Brazil”? It’s the UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL, dammit! And what is “England”? I thought it was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland! Thank God the residents of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China never had any disagreement over their names. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/26 "2004-08-21T03:08:28Z")
> [@fc1114](#): > > Why do people think that America is a country??? Or why do people think it is OK to refer to the USA as ‘America’? Because it just is. I say “America” does anyone think I’m talking about Mexico, Canada or Brazil? No. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/27 "2004-08-21T05:45:19Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > [Um…](http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rs.html)What’d I miss? I’m think he’s saying that people call Russia and America countries because that is what they both are. That’s my interpretation, at least. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/28 "2004-08-21T11:17:47Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > And what is “England”? I thought it was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland! That’s one that definitely _does_ piss off an awful lot of people. A Scottish friend pointed out to me a new tendency on the BBC weather forecasts, refering to “Northern Britain”, when they actually mean “north of Glasgow and Edinburgh”. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/29 "2004-08-21T12:10:30Z")
I would just like to point out that while it’s silly and pedantic and point-and-laugh of someone to insist that America and the USA are different things, it is DEADLY SERIOUS and SOLEMN and IMPORTANT that “England” and “Britain” are different things. Also, after reading this thread, the word “America” is starting to look silly. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/30 "2004-08-21T13:16:59Z")
> [@fc1114](#): > > Why do people think that America is a country??? Or why do people think it is OK to refer to the USA as ‘America’? > > With all the political ads showing, you hear the candidates saying, America this, America that, America will do this! > > America is not a country - The \*\*United States of America \*\* _ **IS** _ a country. Why do you use the abbreviation ‘ **USA** ’? It should be ‘ **TUSoA** ’. Obviously. Also, why do **you** use abbreviations? (America is an abbreviation.) Why is abbreviation such a long word? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/31 "2004-08-21T13:24:43Z")
> [@Ross](#): > > I would just like to point out that while it’s silly and pedantic and point-and-laugh of someone to insist that America and the USA are different things, it is DEADLY SERIOUS and SOLEMN and IMPORTANT that “England” and “Britain” are different things. 1. We don’t know what the OP thinks ‘America’ means. Apparently it’s not a convenient shorthand for the country (as everyone else uses it), so presumably it has no meaning at all. 2. By contrast, ‘Britain’ and ‘England’ **are** completely different. Britain is an abbreviation for the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. This (probably) includes places like the Isle of Man (and England, which is a clearly defined area). I wouldn’t call it ‘deadly serious’ myself, but you are posting on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. So please learn the difference between England and Britain. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/32 "2004-08-21T13:55:55Z")
> [@glee](#): > > 1. By contrast, ‘Britain’ and ‘England’ **are** completely different. > Britain is an abbreviation for the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. This (probably) includes places like the Isle of Man (and England, which is a clearly defined area). > I wouldn’t call it ‘deadly serious’ myself, but you are posting on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. So please learn the difference between England and Britain. 😃 I wasn’t being sarcastic. I meant it. I’ve lived in Glasgow my whole life. How long do you think I would survive if I didn’t know the difference between England and Britain? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/33 "2004-08-21T14:10:52Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > While we’re at it, why do people insist on saying “Brazil”? It’s the UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL, dammit! Nope. It’s the [Federative Republic of Brazil](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/br.html#Govt) (_Republica Federativa do Brasil_). However, it [was known as the United States of Brazil from 1889 to 1967](http://www.wordiq.com/definition/History_of_Brazil#The_Old_Republic_.281889-1930.29). Then there were the United States of New Granada (1861-1863)/United States of Colombia (1863-1885), since then the [Republic of Colombia](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107419.html). There was also a short-lived [United States of Indonesia](http://www.bartleby.com/67/4119.html). ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/34 "2004-08-21T14:16:36Z")
> [@glee](#): > > 1. By contrast, ‘Britain’ and ‘England’ **are** completely different. You are very right. You can only call the English Poms. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/35 "2004-08-21T14:35:54Z")
As far as tradition goes… people here were being called “Americans”, by both themselves and the British, while we were still British colonies, before the United States existed as a nation. So we’re a couple of centuries late to argue about it. There are plenty of instances of arrogance in the history of both the government and people of the USA, but getting upset about this is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/36 "2004-08-21T14:47:49Z")
I am so incredibly ashamed. I allowed myself to have a boyfriend who refused to call the USA “America.” We were all “US Citizens,” not Americans (well, except him–he wasn’t.) I got rid of him eventually. I’m going to email this thread to him now. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/37 "2004-08-21T18:37:09Z")
Who did that Amerigo Vespucci think he was, anyway? Arrogant bastard. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/38 "2004-08-21T18:46:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Or why do people think it is OK to refer to the USA as ‘America’? Because it keeps speakers of English from confusing it with the former [**U** nion of **S** outh **A** frica.](http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sf.html#Govt) ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/39 "2004-08-21T19:13:35Z")
You guys are so-o-o-o-o ignorant. You’re all ignorant. That’s so ignorant. The TRUTH is that there IS no Canada, Mexico, or Brazil. It’s all a liberal plot to distract the voters from the REAL issues. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782/40 "2004-08-21T19:27:51Z")
And here’s another thing. Presumably fc1114 would say Texas is a state of the USA. But that means **stating** Texas is a **state** of the United **States** of America. Isn’t that **statement overstating** the case? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-america-is-a-country/260782.md?page=3)