capitalization - When does a locational distinction change its suffix and capitialization in a proper name?


I am trying to capitalize Western Canada or western Canada properly and am wanting a definition for when the "ern" is added as a suffix to a locational distinction of a proper noun. I believe the capitalization is related to the suffix and am grouping two questions.


After researching on the internet I have found a trend that areas of discrete area become capitalized along with their proper noun



  • East New York

  • West Hollywood

  • East London (Britain)

  • East Los Angeles


Some locations have "ern" added to their locational modifier.


Web Examples (from government sites):



All the examples listed contain discrete areas. The "ern" suffix is used for larger areas, but I am unable to determine when an area becomes large enough.



Answer



There are no rules to guide you; it is a matter of idiom. Once the area is sufficiently distinct, the description gets capitalized and a new proper name is born. As if that weren't enough trouble, sometimes the adjective form of the cardinal direction comes and goes. I live in South Florida, but other people live in Southern California. I was born in East Tennessee, a designation that arises from the from a statutory definition. Not to mention West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee. The Grand Divisions of Tennessee


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