What abbreviation do you use for the United States of America? Which is the proper one?

I normally just say Them Yanks…fuck yeah!!”

I’ve often found myself using “bloody Americans”... (giggle).

Style varies.

From Merriam Webster;s Learner’s Dictionary:

“here are some generally accepted guidelines you can follow:

1) Short forms, such as U.S., are common in casual language, and using a full name or title is considered more appropriate in formal language. So, for example, politicians giving formal addresses will almost always say “The United States of America.” (The full form is also more dramatic.)

2) In writing, use the full form, United States, as a noun, and U.S. (with periods inserted and no spaces) as an adjective describing another noun, as in these examples:

In the United States, many people now pay their bills online.
The U.S. Postal Service is in financial trouble. (U.S. is an adjective describing Postal Service)

3) Finally, use of the abbreviation USA is limited. You will find it in some proper nouns, especially the names of media sources such as the newspaper USA Today, the cable television channel USA Network, and websites like USAhockey.com. It can also be used in mailing addresses and fixed expressions such as “Made in the USA.” Unless you are quoting a source, however, you do not need to use it.”

Whenever I’ve sent post mail to the U.S., I use USA in the address.

Informally, “the States”.

I just say “the U.S.”

Alternatively, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svki4Rp9tlU&feature=youtube_gdata_player…works just as well :-)

USA

U. S.

Formally, the Federal Government identifies itself as United States. I deal with the SEC quite a bit, formally they are the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

All of the above. I guess I select the term based on the flow of the sentence.

“Amiland”, “die Amis” or “der Große Satan”

I prefer “US”, with no periods, but AP style requires “U.S.”, so I use that in my work.

I use US and USA.

I also use states as a shorthand, especially when talking to Europeans and Americans living abroad.

I also use America.

I think USA is probably the best really, it feels the most accurate to me, but I use that one the least.