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