Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Literature & Language > Languages and Cultures > English Language > Grammar > Punctuation and Capitalization > Do you capitalize the cardinal directions?

Do you capitalize the cardinal directions?

In: Punctuation and Capitalization [Edit categories]

Answer:

Not necessarily.

When talking about a general direction, the word is often not capitalised, example: the north side of the house.
Place names are capitalised: East Sussex, West Virginia, South Africa.
In other cases, adjectives and nouns normally begin with small letters: Go south for three miles, then go east for another three miles. There is a cold north wind.

First answer by BrainBlocked. Last edit by Reasonableguy. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 4 [Recommended].

[report abuse]

Can you answer these Punctuation and Capitalization questions?

	What is punctuation and classifying sentences?	Answer it!
	How do you know when to capitalize a modified word?	Answer it!
	When is it proper to capitalize?	Answer it!
	How do you punctuate which vs that?	Answer it!
	How are capital letters used in writing and printing?	Answer it!

Why are the cardinal directions called 'cardinal directions'?
The four cardinal directions are referred to as cardinal because they are the four main origin directions. if you look up the word cardinal in the dictionary one of the definitions is as follows...1....
What is directions are between cardinal directions?
northeast,northwest,southeast,southwest.
What are cardinal directions?
Cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast,
What is a cardinal direction?
north south east west
Cardinal directions what are they?
North, south, east, and west