Example:
in the North
down South
the West Coast
2.当这些单字仅仅表示一般方向或地点时,则首字母不需大写。Example:
Many skiers have relocated from the northeast to the south.
3.当特指北方人和南方人时,请使用首字母大写的Northerner和Southerner。Example:
The first visit of a Northerner to this section is certain to be filled with novel experiences.
4.当northern(北方的)、southern(南方的)、 eastern(东方的)和western(西方的)用于指定某个区域的人民、政治、社会,或文化活动时,首字母请大写。否则,若表述的是一般地点或区域的地理位置或气候时,则不需首字母大写。Example:
Western civilization, but westerly winds.
The drought has ended in the northern states.(描述气候,首字母不需大写)
My sales territory takes in most of the southeastern states.(描述一般区域,首字母不需大写)
She was Southeastern Champion twice in a row.
注意:当western region(西部区域)、southern district(南部地区)等词汇代表的是一间公司的分部时,其首字母请采用大写。Example:
The Western Region (referring to a part of the national sales staff) reports that sales are 12 percent over budget for the first six months.
5.如果northern、southern、eastern和western出现在某地名前,通常不需大写,因为它们所代表的仅是区域内的一般方位。然而,当这些方位词是地名的一部分时,则必须大写。Example:
northern New Jersey、western Massachusetts
Northern Ireland、Western Australia
注意:在某些特定地区,可能存在例外的用法习惯。例如,居住在美国加州南方(southern California)的人可能习惯于使用Southern California,凸显该方位词在区域标识上的特殊意义。