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I write legal marketing materials. Does the term 'America' signify Canada + USA + Mexico, etc. to readers abroad or will they know that I'm talking specifically about the USA?

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Related: Why are the United States often referred to as America? See @Kosmonaut's answer there for a good answer to this question. – Callithumpian Jun 7 '11 at 11:43

5 Answers

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It depends where you are writing for. In Europe, Asia and Oceania generally speaking yes, America denotes the USA unless otherwise qualified. However, in North and South America that is not the case, and in fact it would be rude to consider it so. Under those circumstances a more qualified term would be appropriate.

In Britain and Australia, the Wall Street Journal is an American newspaper, but in Canada it is a US newspaper.

EDIT: I should say it is always correct to say US. So the Wall Street Journal is also a US newspaper in Britain and Australia. So it is a safe default.

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This is simply not true. A Canadian would call the Wall Street Journal an American newspaper. It would not be confusing or rude to use America to refer to the US in North and South America. It is very common usage. However, I agree that using US is probably the safest route. – KitFox♦ Jun 7 '11 at 11:45
It is generally the folks who live south of the USA who have a big problem with "American". I won't venture a guess as to why, but that's what I've seen. – T.E.D. Jun 7 '11 at 13:33
up vote 3 down vote

The safest mode to take would be to refer to the US as the US rather than just "America".

It's been my experience that most Canadians and Mexicans do not appreciate being referred to as "Americans" - even though they are North Americans, while some folks in South and Central America will call themselves "American" because the US isn't the only country on the continent and shouldn't be the only ones referred to as "American".

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up vote 2 down vote

As the variety of answers here shows, "America" is a somewhat ambiguous term. If you are dealing with legal matters, being ambiguous is probably bad. I would be specific: if you mean the US, say "the US."

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up vote 1 down vote

I am in Spain and at work we have joint projects with teams in countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, USA, Chile and Venezuela. We refer to all of them as part of America. The use of "America" to refer to USA only is frowned upon by many, and often confusing. Use "USA" and you'll be safe.

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From the point of view of a Canadian: that should be "the Americas" to refer to all those countries. "America" is understood to mean only the U.S. and it is not frowned upon but nobody in Canada calls it that because it's better to say "U.S." (never U.S.A.). – broiyan Jun 7 '11 at 13:49
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@broiyan: I am giving the perspective of Spain and, in my experience and very probably, a large segment of Europe. Over here, "The Americas" is a politically-correct euphemism often used in order to avoid making waves. It is not my intention to make a statement about how this is perceived in Canada, since I have no idea. – CesarGon Jun 7 '11 at 14:01
up vote -3 down vote

"America" can be easily understood as to refer to the entire of North America, which includes the Canadians.

If you are referring to the U.S. specifically, just state "the U.S." to be on the safe side.

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As a resident in the middle of the USA (and extensive poster in international forums), I have never understood it that way. Perhaps this is how Canadians think of it? It seems the main folks I find who object to the use of "America" for USA are from the southern continent. So if it is meant to be more expansive than just the USA, it would logically include both continents. – T.E.D. Jun 7 '11 at 13:38
No, Canadians do not say "America" to refer to all of North America. – broiyan Jun 7 '11 at 13:50
Just to note: North America also includes Mexico, Greenland, all of the Caribbean countries, and all of the "Latin" or "Central" American countries as well. It's not just the US and Canada. – KitFox♦ Jun 7 '11 at 19:59

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