diff --git a/lib/super_diff/core/tiered_lines_elider.rb b/lib/super_diff/core/tiered_lines_elider.rb
index 148ac6be..98e320bb 100644
--- a/lib/super_diff/core/tiered_lines_elider.rb
+++ b/lib/super_diff/core/tiered_lines_elider.rb
@@ -108,10 +108,8 @@ def one_dimensional_line_tree?
       end
 
       def all_indentation_levels
-        lines
-          .map(&:indentation_level)
-          .select(&:positive?)
-          .uniq
+        levels = lines.map(&:indentation_level).uniq
+        normalized_indentation_levels(levels)
       end
 
       def find_boxes_to_elide_within(pane)
@@ -146,13 +144,10 @@ def normalized_box_groups_at_decreasing_indentation_levels_within(pane)
       def box_groups_at_decreasing_indentation_levels_within(pane)
         boxes_within_pane = boxes.select { |box| box.fits_fully_within?(pane) }
 
+        levels = boxes_within_pane.map(&:indentation_level).uniq
+
         possible_indentation_levels =
-          boxes_within_pane
-          .map(&:indentation_level)
-          .select(&:positive?)
-          .uniq
-          .sort
-          .reverse
+          normalized_indentation_levels(levels).sort.reverse
 
         possible_indentation_levels.map do |indentation_level|
           boxes_within_pane.select do |box|
@@ -174,6 +169,14 @@ def filter_out_boxes_fully_contained_in_others(boxes)
         end
       end
 
+      def normalized_indentation_levels(levels)
+        # For flat structures (strings), include level 0
+        return levels if levels.all?(&:zero?)
+
+        # For nested structures (arrays, hashes), exclude level 0 (brackets)
+        levels.select(&:positive?)
+      end
+
       def combine_congruent_boxes(boxes)
         combine(boxes, on: :indentation_level)
       end
diff --git a/spec/unit/core/tiered_lines_elider_spec.rb b/spec/unit/core/tiered_lines_elider_spec.rb
index 87c369f0..f5da95e4 100644
--- a/spec/unit/core/tiered_lines_elider_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/core/tiered_lines_elider_spec.rb
@@ -311,6 +311,94 @@
           end
 
           context 'and the line tree contains non-noops in addition to noops' do
+            context 'and the line tree is flat (indentation level 0)' do
+              it 'elides the beginning of the noop so as to put it at the maximum' do
+                # Diff:
+                #
+                #   "one"
+                #   "two"
+                #   "three"
+                # - "four"
+                # + "FOUR"
+
+                lines = [
+                  an_actual_line(
+                    type: :noop,
+                    indentation_level: 0,
+                    value: %("one")
+                  ),
+                  an_actual_line(
+                    type: :noop,
+                    indentation_level: 0,
+                    value: %("two")
+                  ),
+                  an_actual_line(
+                    type: :noop,
+                    indentation_level: 0,
+                    value: %("three")
+                  ),
+                  an_actual_line(
+                    type: :delete,
+                    indentation_level: 0,
+                    value: %("four")
+                  ),
+                  an_actual_line(
+                    type: :insert,
+                    indentation_level: 0,
+                    value: %("FOUR")
+                  )
+                ]
+
+                line_tree_with_elisions =
+                  with_configuration(
+                    diff_elision_enabled: true,
+                    diff_elision_maximum: 2
+                  ) { described_class.call(lines) }
+
+                # Result:
+                #
+                #   # ...
+                #   "three"
+                # - "four"
+                # + "FOUR"
+
+                expect(line_tree_with_elisions).to match(
+                  [
+                    an_expected_elision(
+                      indentation_level: 0,
+                      children: [
+                        an_expected_line(
+                          type: :noop,
+                          indentation_level: 0,
+                          value: %("one")
+                        ),
+                        an_expected_line(
+                          type: :noop,
+                          indentation_level: 0,
+                          value: %("two")
+                        )
+                      ]
+                    ),
+                    an_expected_line(
+                      type: :noop,
+                      indentation_level: 0,
+                      value: %("three")
+                    ),
+                    an_expected_line(
+                      type: :delete,
+                      indentation_level: 0,
+                      value: %("four")
+                    ),
+                    an_expected_line(
+                      type: :insert,
+                      indentation_level: 0,
+                      value: %("FOUR")
+                    )
+                  ]
+                )
+              end
+            end
+
             context 'and the only noops that exist are above the only non-noops that exist' do
               it 'elides the beginning of the noop so as to put it at the maximum' do
                 # Diff:
@@ -449,6 +537,7 @@
                   ]
                 )
               end
+
             end
 
             context 'and the only noops that exist are below the only non-noops that exist' do