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From: CyberCypher <cybercyp...@19-16-25-13-01-03.com>
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
Subject: Re: "In the States" when not
Date: 10 Sep 2004 00:19:06 GMT
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Richard Maurer wrote on 10 Sep 2004:

> Tom wrote:
>     Can I say "I'll be there in a half-hour" or "I'll be there in
>     half hour"?  I'm in the States.
> 
> 
> Areff responded:
>     First off, you get Oy!ed for using that expression "the
>     States". This is a deprecated usage outside of military and
>     diplomatic contexts.  Odd thing is, the British think
>     Americans commonly use "the States" (they don't),  and the
>     Americans think the British commonly use "the States" (they
>     do, but only because they mistakenly think that's what
>     Americans commonly do). 

I guess that puts people like me --- expatriate --- into the diplomatic 
category. I use "the States" all the time and have for the past 20 
years. It's only youse guys who actually live there what don't use "the 
States". I think the same goes for terms like "the continent" for Brits 
and Europeans, and "the mainland" for Taiwanese and mainlanders.

> Which brings up the question about what term USA people do use
> while they are not in "The States".  UK and Australian people
> can play as well, and indeed may be better judges.

It all depends on how I feel and what my brain forces out of my mouth. 
"The States", "the US", "the USA", "America", "the United States", "the 
Great Satan" (when I'm being iranic), and possibily other minor usages.

-- 
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
For email, replace numbers with English alphabet.