Should cardinal directions be capitalized?

2021-01-12 by No Comments

Should cardinal directions be capitalized?

At the most basic level, the standard advice is to lowercase north, south, east and west when used as compass directions and to capitalize them when they are used as part of a proper noun or adjective or refer to regions or geographic areas. North Carolina is north of South Carolina and east of West Virginia.

Do we capitalize directions?

You should only capitalize directions, such as north, south, east, and west, when you are referring to the direction as a proper noun, such as “in the South” or “up North.” If you are merely referring to a direction, such as “go south on I-90,” then you should keep the direction lowercase.

When should north be capitalized?

In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction. Capitalize these words when they designate regions.

What are 7 capitalization rules?

English Capitalization Rules:

  • Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence.
  • Capitalize Names and Other Proper Nouns.
  • Don’t Capitalize After a Colon (Usually)
  • Capitalize the First Word of a Quote (Sometimes)
  • Capitalize Days, Months, and Holidays, But Not Seasons.
  • Capitalize Most Words in Titles.

Are directions capitalized AP style?

AP Style says it should be capitalized while the Chicago Style Manual says it should be lowercased. To sum up, Use lowercase when referring to directions on a compass.

When to capitalize north south east west?

North, South, East and West as Proper Nouns You should capitalize “North,” “South,” “East,” and “West” when they’re part of a proper noun (i.e., the name of a unique thing).

What are the 4 main directions?

North, east, south, and west are the four cardinal directions, often marked by the initials N, E, S, and W. East and west are at right angles to north and south. East is in the clockwise direction of rotation from north.

Why are they called cardinal directions?

Why do we call them the cardinal directions, anyway? “Cardinal” comes from the early 14th century and was derived from the Latin cardinalis (“principal, chief, essential”).

What are the rules for capitalization?

Capitalization. For capitalization in English, there are three main rules on which everyone can agree: Capitalize the first letter in every sentence. Capitalize initial letters of proper nouns. Capitalize the pronoun I. Beyond these three uses, there is much disagreement over when to capitalize.

Are the cardinal directions capitalized?

In general, cardinal directions such as north, south, east and west are not capitalized. However, because the direction is part of the state name in some state, such as South Dakota, the direction must be capitalized.

Do you capitalize east south north west?

Capitalize North,West,South, and East when they refer to a section of the country. Do not capitalize north,west,south, and east when they are used as a direction. Do not capitalize the seasons (fall, summer, winter, and spring).

When to capitalize words for points of the compass?

Capitalize the names of the compass points (north, south, west, east) only if they are part of a name. If they point a direction, do not capitalize them. Turn west on Main Street, and you will get to U.S. 1, which will take you all the way through the South to Key West.