Square Inches vs Inches Squared I was just asked the question, is there a difference between 12 square inches and 12 inches squared. At first I assumed that 12 inches squared mean a square with sides of 12 inches. In this case the answer would be no. 12 inches squared would be 144 square inches. I've been searching the web for quite a long time for what is meant by 12 inches squared. I can't find anything. Is there some formal use for the phrase "inches squared"?
In a context in which you actually expect a square -- such as manufacturing -- one can naturally interpret &quot;12 inches square[d]&quot; as &quot;a square 12 inches on a side&quot;. This would be the  area of $144$ square inches. 

In other context, "inches squared" may be used synonymously with "square inches". This may also depend on the speaker's native language. 



Based on comments by Arkamis
I always understood the “squared” part of __inches squared was pertaining to the inch itself, not the quantity of inches. An inch squared is a 1” x 1” square, not a linear one dimensional inch. 
That’s why 12 inches squared is 12 square inches, whether 6x2, 3x4, or 12x1.

Taken literally, 12 inches squared would simply be a linear 144” and in no way refer to area. Then it would be written 12^2 inches, not 12”^2.