nouns - Should north, south, east and west be capitalised?


Should cardinal points be capitalised? Please give a reason why they should or should not.



Answer



North as an adjective (and other cardinal points) is never capitalized, except when part of a construct that is capitalized in itself, such as a country name (North Korea, South Africa).


As a noun, it is capitalized when used in the game of bridge (North and South play together) and, more commonly, when designating a known part of a country (Virginia joined the North) or of the world (the mysterious East, the history of music in the West).


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