Use of "America" when the meaning is "United States" 

You are correct, that one irks me so whenever I see it I change it )

In school, the difference between America and the United States was beaten into our heads. America is two continents. The United States is one country. There is no country or nation named "America". So when someone puts "Nationality - American" , well, what does that tell us ? He's not European or Russian, I guess. But he she or it could be from Guatemala, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Peru or thirty other countries. The use of "American" in that way is flat-out wrong. And becoming more and more common, alas !

You are correct, occasionally using 'United States' becomes very cumbersome in a sentence. As an occasionality, what the heck. But we really need to stomp on this total misuse of the name "America" when people really mean "United States." 

Today's schools just have a heck of a lot to answer for ( 210.22.142.82