The exact plural of square foot is square feet.
Understanding the Pluralization of "Square Foot"
When dealing with measurements, the unit "foot" consistently changes to "feet" in its plural form. The term "square foot" refers to a unit of area, calculated by multiplying length by width. In this compound noun, "square" acts as an adjective describing the type of "foot" being used (a unit of area), and it remains singular. The noun "foot" takes the plural form to indicate multiple units.
For instance, you would say "one square foot" but "two square feet," "a hundred square feet," and so on.
Examples in Context
Here are a few practical examples demonstrating the correct usage:
- "The blueprint indicated that the living room had an area of 250 square feet."
- "We need to purchase enough flooring to cover approximately 1,200 square feet."
- "To calculate the total cost, multiply the price per square foot by the total square feet required."
Related Terms: "Foot" in Compound Measurements
The rule of pluralizing "foot" to "feet" holds true for other compound measurement terms involving "foot," such as:
- Cubic foot: The plural is cubic feet (e.g., "The storage unit has 100 cubic feet of space").
- Running foot: As noted by Dictionary.com, comparing "square foot" to "running foot" reveals a similar pattern. A running foot refers to a linear foot of material. Its plural is also running feet (e.g., "We ordered 50 running feet of trim").
This consistency highlights that when "foot" functions as a unit of measurement for length, area, or volume, its plural form is always "feet."
| Singular Form | Plural Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| square foot | square feet | Area measurement |
| cubic foot | cubic feet | Volume measurement |
| running foot | running feet | Linear measurement |
| one foot (length) | five feet (length) | General length |
| a foot (anatomy) | two feet (anatomy) | Body part |
For further information, you can consult the definition of square foot on Dictionary.com.
