Maybe im just stupid but....

[electracoyote]

Surely continental US includes Alaska? But not Hawaii, obviously.

This ^

The term "Continental United States" has always included Alaska. "Contiguous" means sharing a boundary, so those would be what are commonly called the "Lower 48" states that share boundaries, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

Of course, "Lower 48" is no longer accurate since the addition of Hawaii, the southernmost State in the US.

 

[Jazz Ad]

I believe it is the 48 lowers in rank, not in latitude.

 

[sleepytime]

The term "continental United States" predates Alaskan statehood. Traditionally, it means the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, excluding territories. When Alaska became a state, it retained the same meaning, but the meaning has become ambiguous because of people including Alaska due to its location on the North American continent. It is perhaps more clear to use "lower 48". This also includes D.C.

Please note that "lower 48" does not mean "southernmost" 48. This would be a case of someone not knowing what "lower 48" means and just making up a definition.

 

[Jim Nazium]

Wait, so some of you are saying Canada is a separate country? Like, with its own laws and everything? I always thought they were regular Americans, just with funny accents.

 

[sleepytime]

Wait, so some of you are saying Canada is a separate country? Like, with its own laws and everything? I always thought they were regular Americans, just with funny accents.

We maintain the appearance of separate nations to confuse foreigners. If they are acting like they might want to kill you, you just claim to be a Canadian. They still haven't figured that one out.

 

[ShredderMaximus]

I always considered Cananda like a strange parallel dimension twilight zone realm, where they look like us, sound like us, and eat like us, all while being completely strange and alien at the same time.

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call, Canada.

DUH DUH DUH DUN!

 

[duff beer]

Wait, so some of you are saying Canada is a separate country? Like, with its own laws and everything? I always thought they were regular Americans, just with funny accents.

Our "funny accents" can't compare to some of the ones you folks have...

 

[fdeck]

I think "contiguous" morphed into "continental."

"Continental" is a kind of breakfast served at hotels, consisting of chalky donuts, a loaf of stale bread, and a toaster that doesn't work.

 

[Kwesi]

This ^

The term "Continental United States" has always included Alaska. "Contiguous" means sharing a boundary, so those would be what are commonly called the "Lower 48" states that share boundaries, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

Of course, "Lower 48" is no longer accurate since the addition of Hawaii, the southernmost State in the US.

While, contiguous is the word I've been looking for I have never heard "Continental United States" used in reference to the contiguous stats and Alaska which is why I'm inclined to believe that this:

The term "continental United States" predates Alaskan statehood. Traditionally, it means the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, excluding territories. When Alaska became a state, it retained the same meaning, but the meaning has become ambiguous because of people including Alaska due to its location on the North American continent. It is perhaps more clear to use "lower 48". This also includes D.C.

Please note that "lower 48" does not mean "southernmost" 48. This would be a case of someone not knowing what "lower 48" means and just making up a definition.

Is correct. Thanks, sleepytime.

 

[BassyBill]

Why do you Americans need to make everything so complicated? Why not just keep things simple like we do here in Britain/Great Britain/The British Isles/the United Kingdom?