[Practicality]

A lot of people get confused because the term state can refer to either a federated state (like in the U.S.) or a sovereign state (hence the term, "head of state" for the leader of a country).

Also, it's even more confusing because the states used to be considered different nations, united. Hence why they used to be called "these united states." Just an FYI.

[moron4hire]

Given that "States" is in our country's name, as well as the fact that they are "United", I think people should reasonably expect that its subdivisions are not called "countries".