This thread made my brain cells suicide.
Just for clarification
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans

America is the USA, Hence United States of...
North America isn't and the Americas aren't.

For Example, Canadians aren't called American, neither are Brazilians or Argentinians etc.

America isn't a country either, your argument is invalid

America is the simplified version for any non-american for the United States of America.
The Americas, is North (USA + Canada) and South (Brazil, Chile, Argentina etc).

America is easier to say than The United States of America, and sounds more normal than USA. Saying The United Stated of America is something I've only ever seen the President of the US say. USA is something I only imagine crowds cheering at a sporting event.

Tl;Dr: North America isn't a country, but America is a simplified version of the United States of America that most Non-Americans use and that is a country.

america,s not a country either

America isn't a country either

It's the common name for the United States of America. In some countries "America" refers also to the continent(s), but citizens of the USA are usually called some variation of "American".

*two continents

America isn't a country either

i think i am going full retard here but i think that america is not a country aswell

People put this comment all the fucking time.
It's not funny.
It's not witty.
It's just being a bitch.
People who are from the US are called AMERICANS
Nobody calls them United Statesians r some stupid shit like that.
The US is often referred to as "America."
Is Canada called America because of the continent it is on? No.
What about Mexico? No
Brazil? No.
What about any other country?
Nope.

Everybody knows, that when you talk about "America" (without saying South or North), you are most likely referring to the USA

There's no "United States of Europe" country, so your point is invalid.

Sorry for going off, but I'm tired of seeing that damn comment everywhere

actually. here at Spain, we say "estadouindense" (We call the country "Estados Unidos")

I don't see how he was being a bitch. Your bitching, however...

I'd say you can use the European Union as an equivalent to the states as the US kinda started the same way (a bunch of autonom states joined together)

I for myself I try to use the terms "states" or "USA when talking about the country as they are clearly as against "america". But the whole "Hurr, durr, America is a continent (two continents) and no country" thing is indeed, stupid faggotry.

I know that.
What I'm SAYING is that people refer to it AS AMERICA

Maybe they do. Doesn't make America a country. Also means you were unjustified when ranting at junkposts, as he was in fact correct.

Actually in many places (European countries, for example), North and South America are considered one continent.

Goddammit. Are you going to say Greece isn't a country either, because it's technically called the Hellenic Republic? Or that Ireland isn't a country because it's the "Republic of Ireland", while "Ireland" is the name of the geographical island?

"America" is the common name of the United States of America, and when English-speakers say "America" they're usually referring to the USA.

Person 1: "hey i'm from America!"
Person 2: "which, north or south?"
makes no sense because there is only one country with America in its name, thats the United States of America, otherwise known as America, or the United States. It is much easier to say America since if you are referring to the continent you would immediately add north or south. Any other country would just use its own name, if you are in another continent and you say you are from America it is assumed you mean the USA, otherwise you would say Americas if you want to give the least amount of information possible, otherwise you would say your country of origin. Thus saying America referring to the USA is thus justified.
TL;DR The USA is called America because it is the only country with America in its name.

yeah, but America is actually an island (very big one), which has two continents (south and north) in it, with a country called United States of America. You could say you're from the United States, couldn't you?

yes but again, its just easier to say one word, America. nobody is going to say they are from America and refer to both the continents. Its all really preference but it is much simpler to say America. How would you refer to somebody from the United States? Americans, because there is no real way to use United States in that way.

well, we have a word for it at Spain

?

estadounidense.

it looks long, but it isn't. we call USA Estados Unidos

Many Latin Americans call us "norteamericanos", even though we're obviously not the only country in North America. It doesn't matter, as long as people know what you're referring to.

well, fuck. i can't argue with that

MFW spanish speakers from central america i know call them "americanos"

well, that's the other way

so i googled it and united stats of america is a country while south america is a continent... i guess i am wrong.
but i am so confused now

There is North America and South America, they are both Continents. And in the middle of the North American Continent is a country called The United States of America A.K.A. America.

It's just like how Australia is a country and a continent at the same time. Except America has separate nations bording them. Canada above them and Mexico below them. Which I might add, are in North America.

Australia is not a continent, Oceania is.