sq km

USAGE SUMMARY

"sq km" is a correct and usable phrase in written English and stands for "square kilometers." You could use it when describing an area of land or water.
For example, "The lake covers 10 sq km of territory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

5.7 million sq km of cropland decline.

The Guardian

It is enormous: 7,653 sq km.

The Guardian - Travel

Europe covers only 10m sq km.

The Guardian

Debris was scattered over 50 sq km.

The Guardian

Now only about 70,000 sq km remain.

The Economist

"Last year we lost 6,500 sq km.

The Guardian

In fact its total area is 48 sq km.

The Guardian

We have about 4m sq km of sea ice.

The Guardian

This has been corrected to say 1.14m sq km.

The Guardian

Covering 280 sq km, the mine would be Australia's largest.

The Guardian

Sandwip, near Chittagong, covered 600 sq km 50 years ago.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sq km" when brevity is needed, such as in tables, figures, or technical writing. In formal prose, consider using "square kilometers" for clarity.

Common error

Ensure that "sq km" is always written in lowercase. Capitalizing any part of the phrase is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sq km" functions as a unit of measurement, specifically indicating area. It is used to quantify the size of surfaces, territories, or regions, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples where the phrase quantifies areas ranging from small islands to large expanses of sea ice. Ludwig confirms this common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sq km" is a widely recognized and grammatically sound abbreviation for "square kilometers", used to denote area. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples from diverse sources. While it's acceptable across various contexts, using "square kilometers" may be preferred in formal writing for enhanced clarity. Remember to keep it lowercase, and consider alternatives like "square miles" or "km^2" depending on your audience and the level of detail required. Ludwig's analysis highlights its prevalence in news, encyclopedias and scientific contexts, emphasizing its role in conveying precise spatial information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

square kilometers

Expands the abbreviation to its full form. Directly equivalent.

kilometer squared

Expresses the same unit of area using a different word order.

km^2

Uses a mathematical notation for square kilometers.

square miles

Uses a different unit of area measurement.

area in square kilometers

More verbose, explicitly stating that it's an area measurement.

surface area in square kilometers

Specifies that it is a surface area.

size in square kilometers

More conversational, referring to the size.

land area

Specifically refers to the area of land, excluding water bodies.

area of

Refers to the surface covered by something without specifying the unit.

territory size

Refers to the overall size of a territory.

FAQs

How do I convert "sq km" to square miles?

To convert from "sq km" to square miles, multiply the area in "sq km" by 0.3861. For example, 100 sq km is equal to 38.61 square miles.

Is it better to use "sq km" or "square kilometers" in scientific writing?

While both are acceptable, "square kilometers" is generally preferred in formal scientific writing for clarity. "Sq km" is more common in tables and figures where space is limited.

What are some other units of area measurement besides "sq km"?

Other common units include square miles, acres, hectares, and square meters. The choice depends on the scale of the area you're measuring; for instance, "hectares" are often used for land area in agriculture.

How do I write areas using "sq km" in a sentence?

You can write "The park covers 50 sq km" or "The island has an area of 100 sq km". Be sure to include a space between the number and the unit. You could also specify that the "area is equal to" 100 sq km.