One would assume it to be about 2 square meters, but this is obviously not the case. In fact, I'm reading Illium by Dan Simmons. A quote follows:
Much like the room they had faxed into, this space was windowless and about twenty feet square. But unlike the other room, this one was warm, lighted, and free of snow or ice. And unlike the other room, this one was almost filled with an oval metal machine about fifteen feet long.
By this description, "twenty feet square" seems to mean 20x20 feet aka 400 square feet or 40 square meters. Given that Dan Simmons is a renowned American writer, it's not likely that he just can't speak English correctly. So, who's right and who's wrong here?
Answer
20 square feet is a measure of area: for instance, an object 4 feet by 5 feet.
20 feet square is a measure of linear dimensions: a square 20 feet on each side.
A room '20 feet square' has an area of 400 square feet, or between 10 and 11 square meters.
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