Of the two official United States holidays recogniz­ing the commitment of members of America’s military services, Memorial Day honors those who lost their lives while defending their country. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May, as weather is turn­ing warm and most schools and universities are adjourning [...]

The lure of the open road is a favorite theme in U.S. popular culture. Immortalized in literature, music and film, the so-called Great American Road Trip is a rite of passage for youth seeking adventure and is also a popular vacation choice for families. Traversing the United States by car [...]

Most major American cities have a “Chinatown,” easily identified by Chinese-language shop and street signs, Chinese restaurants and merchants selling Chinese goods. The neighborhoods have long histories and are popular tourist destinations, but like many sections of urban America, they face the challenge of development and rising property costs as [...]

Celebration of Mexican heritage is widely observed in United States When the Cinco de Mayo (“fifth of May”) holiday is observed in the United States, the annual festivity honors the Mexican heritage of a growing number of U.S. citizens, with a focus on Mexico’s distinctive cuisine, folk dances, colorful costumes [...]

Earth Day, April 22, is the annual U.S. celebration of the environment and a time for Americans to assess the work still needed to protect the natural gifts of our planet. Earth Day has no central organizing force behind it, though several nongovernmental organizations work to keep track of the [...]

The United States is a nation of immigrants; only Native Americans can claim North America as their ancestral home. Other Americans or their ancestors came to this land, creating what many call “the melting pot.” These immigrants brought with them the traditions of their homeland — including their agricultural practices, [...]

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the United States is a party, both state that individuals have a right to freedom of expression; this right includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of [...]

When you meet Americans, can you tell which part of the country they are from simply by listening to them? Or if someone asked you to imitate an American, would you try to sound like you were from Texas, Southern California or somewhere else? Chances are, it would be an [...]

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the loss of not only a great friend, but also a great benefactor of Fulbright and a confirmed believer in the importance of international educational exchange. As we bid a sad farewell to Frank Boas, his kindness will always [...]

Welcome to EJ|USA: Destination America, the inaugural issue of IIP’s reinvented monthly flagship publication. Download this issue (11.1 MB | .pdf) Contents of this issue: Editor’s Note See What’s New!
Managing Editor Elizabeth Kelleher introduces the new EJ|USA. All About English All About English: Words of Note from This Issue ©Merriam-Webster Learner’s [...]