Editing Binary form (section)

===Rounded vs. incipient or small ternary===
As noted above, there is some disagreement about the use of the term ''rounded binary''.  The disagreements concern two issues: whether the names ''rounded binary'', ''incipient ternary'', or ''small ternary'' is more appropriate to describe the form; and how much of the A section must return at the end of the B section to be considered rounded.

The principal difference between ''rounded binary'' and ''small ternary'' forms is the nature of the B section material between the A section and the return of A section material at the end of the piece.  In ''rounded binary'', this additional material is called a ''digression'', and does not stand alone as a conclusive musical section, whereas in ternary, this material constitutes a complete musical section unto itself (albeit not necessarily ending on the tonic chord if an example of continuous ternary form).

The issue concerning how much of the A section must return to be considered ''rounded binary'' is subjective.  Either the entire A section must return or only the thematic material of the A section (specifically, the ''basic idea'') and the cadence.

Putting these ideas together, if the material between the A section and the return of the thematic material does not stand alone (a digression) and only a part of the A section returns, we do not have a ternary form, and may have a ''rounded binary'', though not all theorist would accept this terminology (and there is some overlap here with the notion of ''balanced binary'' -- see above).  If we have a digression, but also have the entire A section returning, then it might be called either ''rounded binary'' or ''incipient ternary'' (meaning, "approaching ternary"), depending on the theorist.  If the intermediate material stands on its own as a self-sufficient section, then we have ''small ternary'' (in such cases, the entire A section usually returns).