UK looking for outside production facilities

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . I guess I fail to see the confusion or chauvinism in calling citizens of the USA, Americans.

. . . The idea that only the USA is America is a bit of chauvinism that it's time we outgrew.

Maybe I should have put "only" in bold italics. My point is that there are many other countries whose residents have as valid a claim to be called "Americans" as residents of the USA do, and excluding them from consideration is an instance of chauvinism.

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[TheKiltedWonder]

I think chauvinism is a bit harsh. There are two meanings to the word American and it can get confusing without context. If it's clear that a speaker is referring to inhabitants of the United States, then I don't believe that saying a Canadian is not American is an example of chauvinism.

[Makeitstop]

I think chauvinism is a bit harsh. There are two meanings to the word American and it can get confusing without context. If it's clear that a speaker is referring to inhabitants of the United States, then I don't believe that saying a Canadian is not American is an example of chauvinism.

You are correct sir. A word may have multiple meanings. America may refer to a country or 1 of 2.5 continents.

So in this case we have America(1) (country) and America(2) (continent) and I think it is disrespectful (or at least a significant misunderstanding) to say that Americans(1) cannot refer to themselves as Americans(1) because it excludes other Americans(2). If we have to refer to ourselves as citizens of the USA, then they can go ahead and refer to themselves as residents of North America. Americans(2) have no more right to the word than Americans(1).

If you are not citizen or resident of America(1) you are not an American(1). I'm sorry if that offends people, but it is not an insult or some dismissive attitude. It is a simple statement of fact.