doubt

Hi Quoc,

What is the difference in meaning between:

1. Four square miles. This is a noun phrase. He owns a lot of land. He owns four square miles.

2. Four miles square. This is an adjectival phrase. The land that he owns is four miles square. He o

Four square miles is an area (of any shape) that measures four square miles. It could be a square of two miles by two miles. Or any other shape that contains a four square mile area.

Something four miles square is a square plot of land four miles on a side. That would be sixteen square miles.

Hi Tartan,

Welcome to the Forum.

Thanks for your comment. I overlooked the sixteen square miles aspect.

However, I still suggest that the common noun phrase would be 'He owns sixteen square miles' rather than 'He owns four miles square.'

Bets wishes, Clive

Oh, truly, your construction is best by far. The way to use four miles square is this: He bought a piece of land four miles square.

Thanks for the welcome.