=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EDline Vol. 7, no. 61 (27 February 2002) Editorial mailing list (digest version) Published by the Electric Editors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents: Q & A [2st] 'United States' and 'USA' as noun and adjectival forms =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ---[2]-- Q & A -------------------------------------------------- ** [2st] 'United States' and 'USA' as noun and adjectival forms Date: Thurs, 14 Feb 2002 15:44 From: David Girling, dgirling@dircon.co.uk I am currently 'proof-reading' (I can't detect any sign that it was copy-edited in the first place, but not to worry!) the autobiography of a senior civil servant in which the United States of America is almost invariably referred to as the 'United States', a term which is also used adjectivally throughout. Somehow and from I know not where, I have acquired a distinct unwillingness to let this usage go - wherever I come across it. I feel I should change it when used for the name of the country to 'United States of America' or 'USA' - usually the latter - and preserve 'United States' or 'US' for adjectival use only. I have some vague recollection that the rationale for this is that several other countries are officially 'The United States of Whatever' (although only Brazil comes immediately to mind as belonging to this category) and national sensibilities might be offended. But this could be more to do with my own latent resentment against American political and cultural hegemony! I have searched all my style manuals and editorial reference books to no avail, and trying to find a rational reason for applying such a convention is rapidly becoming an obsession which is threatening to harm my productivity levels - low at the best of times! Can any one please come up with a more convincing and logical justification for adopting such a convention - or at least admit to the same prejudice so that I don't feel too alone! ------------------------ Date: Thurs, 14 Feb 2002 From: Sabra Ledent, sbledent@sprint.ca Scholarly publishers in North America generally use United States (not USA or United States of America) as the noun form and U.S. as the adjectival form. This style followed that prescribed in _The Chicago Manual of Style,_ published by the University of Chicago. ------------------------ Date: Thurs, 14 Feb 2002 From: Mary Ellen Osowski, maryellen.osowski@curriculumassociates.com I remember being taught a similar rule regarding the use of the United States v. United States of America. However, in terms of style, the prose will become clunky if you repeat United States of America over and over again, and tedious for the reader. As a compromise, I would use the United States of America at first appearance in a chapter and then chop it down to the United States, especially since I think that most people will read United States to mean United States of America (sorry about that). I'm also assuming that this book is intended for people in countries where English is the first language. ------------------------ Date: Thurs, 14 Feb 2002 From: John Crane, jcrane8@bellsouth.net The 13th edition of the Chicago Manual (which I prefer to the 14th) says to spell out country names unless space is very tight. It doesn't, as far as I can tell, specify exactly what should be spelled out for the U.S., but it gives the abbreviation as "U.S.," so it might be inferred that the spelled-out version is "United States." Personally, as an American editor not overly concerned about perceived sensibilities, as well as one who _always_ considers space to be tight, I have for years used "U.S." as a noun and "American" as the adjective. Frankly, I would have thought that "U.S." would be as universally recognized as, say, "U.K." is or "USSR" was. ------------------------ Date: Thurs, 14 Feb 2002 From: Judy Stein, jstein@panix.com John Crane wrote: > The 13th edition of the Chicago Manual ... says to spell out > country names unless space is very tight. ... it gives the > abbreviation as "U.S.," so it might be inferred that the > spelled-out version is "United States." Are they saying to spell out "United States" as an *adjective*? > I have for years used "U.S." as a noun and "American" as the > adjective. You mean you'd use "the American government" rather than "the U.S. goverment"? "American citizens" rather than "U.S. citizens"? The United States is not the only country in America, not even the only country in North America. (And not all of the United States are in America, geographically speaking.) There's some justification for referring to U.S. citizens as "Americans" in cases where the context makes it clear, simply because "United Statesians" is exceedingly awkward, but I should think in most cases one would use "U.S." as the adjective unless one meant to include Canadians and other residents of North America. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 From: Michael Fitch, michaelbfitch@supanet.com John Crane writes: > I would have thought that "U.S." would be as universally > recognized as, say, "U.K." is or "USSR" was. Far more so, in fact. Once you've remembered USA < North America < America, you're there (sorry, Hawaii). That's nothing compared with the tangled web of UK, British Isles, Great Britain, Ireland (the island), England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland (the state), the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands (sorry, if I've left anyone out). 'UK' is not universally recognized, though it's often our job as editors to try to make it more recognizable. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 From: Nick Hudson, hudson@c031.aone.net.au What about 'United Kingdom'? This is an almost perfect parallel. In fact, the Americans have the march on the Brits historically - US was used this way long before UK was, and much more widely (US Marshall, US Post, USAAF). I would spell out United States of America just as often as I would spell out United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, i.e. rarely. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 From: John Crane, jcrane8@bellsouth.net Judy Stein wrote: > Are they [Chicago Manual] saying to spell out "United States" > as an *adjective*? That's my inference. > You mean you'd use "the American government" rather than "the > U.S. goverment"? "American citizens" rather than "U.S. > citizens"? Okay, you're right. I'd usually use "U.S. government." "U.S. citizens" or "American citizens" might go either way. I would use "American invention" and "American style." Maybe it boils down to using "U.S." when something is related to the government and "American" when it has to do with the people or the country as a whole. > ...I should think in most cases one would use "U.S." as the > adjective unless one meant to include Canadians and other > residents of North America. Most Canadians will be the first to say they're not Americans and are proud of it. When referring to people on the continent, of course, one says "North Americans." Do you think anyone really thinks "Canada" when hearing the phrase "American culture"? ---------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 From: Judy Stein, jstein@panix.com John Crane wrote: > I'd usually use "U.S. government." "U.S. citizens" or "American > citizens" might go either way. I would use "American invention" > and "American style." Maybe it boils down to using "U.S." when > something is related to the government and "American" when it > has to do with the people or the country as a whole. I don't know if I'd limit "U.S." to what's government related, unless you're using "government related" very broadly, as opposed to, say, culture related. There's probably no way to state a general rule; it depends largely on the specific case whether "American" or "U.S." is the appropriate adjective. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 From: Alex Gray, wordworks@gairloch.co.uk > Far more so, in fact. Once you've remembered USA < North > America < America, you're there (sorry, Hawaii). > That's nothing compared with the tangled web of UK, British > Isles, Great Britain, Ireland (the island), England, Scotland, > Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland (the state), the Isle of Man, > the Channel Islands Gets even worse if you also have to deal with their colonies and possessions (US and UK, that is - I'm not aware of any Irish overseas possessions, except perhaps New York City!). --- Thanks also to Miranda Barker, Peter Cousins, David Ibbetson, David King, Eddie Kent, Kathleen Lyle, Anna Beth McCormack, John Morris, Corinne Orde and Damaris Wilson for their contributions. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= END OF EDline 7.61 Admin page: < http://www.electriceditors.net/edline/admin.htm > ** The views expressed in this mailing list are strictly those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the moderators or of the Electric Editors. ** Articles (c) 2001, 2002, by individual contributors Design (c) 1996--2002 Iain Brown Compilation (c) 2002, Iain Brown / The Electric Editors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=