The document provides guidelines for capitalizing compass directions and regions in writing according to AP style. It states that compass directions like "east" and "south" are generally lowercase when referring to a literal direction, but are capitalized when used as names for regions, as in "traveling to the East Coast." Proper nouns involving compass directions, like names for states, cities, and locations, are also capitalized. Exceptions include directions used as adjectives or when combined with another noun to form a place name.

1. Geography:Directions and Regions Kristen D. Smith AP Style Assignment JMC 70: Media Editing Fall 2010

2. When writing about a compass direction, like “She drove east,” or “west of the mountain base,” generally speaking, with north and south too, these directions are lowercase.

3. When these directions designate regions, we make them capital, for the lobster from the East Coast, to “Midwest schools are the way to go!”

4. Therefore…

5. The storms are spreading eastward. The South will rise again. The Western states have sunny days. Go north to find Paul Bunyan.

6. A family from Southeast Asia traveled west and pitched a tent. They asked a woman if they should hike north or south, but couldn’t understand her Southern accent.

7. With names of nations, we lowercase, unless they’re part of a proper name, or used to divide a nation politically, like, “Is Northern Ireland or South Korea to blame?”

8. With cities and states, we lowercase when referring to certain sections, like western Montana, northern Atlanta, or about southern Iowa’s many attractions.

9. However…

10. We capitalize compass points when part of a proper noun, like North Dakota and West Virginia and “North Carolina has many pretty towns.”

11. Another time we capitalize (yes, there’s another exception) is when we write Southern California, or some other widely known section.

12. When combining with another noun to form names for locations or regions, we write the North Woods and the South Pole, and “That food was Middle Eastern.” Picture by M. le Fay, July 27, 2009

13. I hope you’ve learned some basics from the AP Stylebook. But remember, if you’re not sure, just grab one and take a look!