Generic:  2-D have area, 3-D have surface area

Think of a square and a cube

Square:

   2 dimensional, 1 surface, so just area applies

Cube:

   3 dimensional, 6 surfaces, so surface area applies

Example: if you have a cube with sides 2cm long, what is the area of one side? and what is the surface area of the cube?

  Area = side x side  =  (2cm)(2cm)  =  4cm²

  Surface area  =  (6)(side x side)  =  (6)(2cm)(2cm)  =  24cm²