America

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Grammarist

The dictionary lists America is the landmass consisting of North and South America. However, we were not able to find one example if it being used in this way, and so it is our belief that this definition will become obsolete sooner rather than later. America is commonly used as a name for the United States of America.

The continent  of America is more commonly called the Americas, and parts of the continent are determined by adjectives such as North America, South America, Central America. 

History

The name is thought to derive from the Latin Americus, which was Amerigo Vespucci who sailed along the coast of South America in 1501. America appeared in print for the first time in 1507.

Examples

As a nation, America must do the same.  We must remember where we’ve come from, what we’ve been given and what we’ve accomplished as a people in order to find our way forward. There’s no doubt that America is at a turning point. [Washington Times]

So while British TV critics regularly – and often justifiably – lament that the best drama is made in America, UK series are now enjoying unprecedented success in the US. [The Guardian]

For years, many of us have said that the Bush administration never got credit for the fact that there was no follow-along attack after 9/11 on the American continent, as was universally expected. [New York Post]

Debate if you like whether the Americas can be split in two and the true number of continents. [Stuff]