# Would you use the word "square" for a public space that's round?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-the-word-square-for-a-public-space-thats-round/1032926>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 9, 2026, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-the-word-square-for-a-public-space-thats-round/1032926 "2026-09-09T08:02:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-the-word-square-for-a-public-space-thats-round/1032926/21 "2026-09-10T16:43:11Z")

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I’ve learned that, with people who are learning English, it’s best to avoid idioms, slang, figures of speech, etc. What is best is to communicate in simple, concrete terms. If it’s a circle, say “circle” while you are pointing and making a circular motion with your finger. Not only are you giving them directions, you are teaching them a new word.

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-the-word-square-for-a-public-space-thats-round/1032926/22 "2026-09-10T16:59:51Z")

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> [@Dorjan](#):
>
> Cleveland’s Public Square has been a square since 1796 (4 squares, actually). It was renovated in 2016 and is now more butterfly-shaped, but it is still called Public Square.

I had to look, you are right. But the streets themselves are unchanged so from a traffic viewpoint it’s still a square.

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**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-the-word-square-for-a-public-space-thats-round/1032926/23 "2026-09-10T19:07:16Z")

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Harvard Square is not square. It’s not even round. It’s more a triangle.

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