Term
|
Definition
| Use lowercase letters when talking about compass directions. Capitalize when talking about a well-known region. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| North, South, West (Southern states or Western states), Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When talking about a particular part of the United States you're generally talking about a region, so you would capitalize it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
When referring to a compass direction you use lower case letters.
Ex. I am skiing west of here. |
|
|
Term
| Sections of individual states |
|
Definition
When talking about sections of individual states you're generally talking about compass points so you use lower case letters.
Ex. eastern Colorado, northern California |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Only if the section of an individual state is well-known do you capitalize it.
Ex. Northern Virginia, Southern California |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Lowercase directions and regions of a nation unless they are a part of a proper name or are used to designate a politically divided nation.
Ex. northern France, western Uzbekistan
or Northern Ireland, South Korea |
|
|
