Capitalization Rules
33
- Swiss Confederation: the Confederation; the Federal Council; the Federal Government; but confederation, federal (in general sense)
- French Government: the Government; French and Italian Governments: the Governments; but government (in general sense); the Churchill government; European governments
- Cherokee Nation: the nation; but Greek nation; American nations
- National Government (of any specific nation); but national customs
- Allied Powers, Allies (in World Wars I and II); but our allies, weaker allies; Central Powers (in World War I); but the powers; European powers
- Republic of South Africa: the Republic; but republic (in general sense)
Names of regions, localities, and geographic features
3.21.
A descriptive term used to denote a definite region, locality, or geographic feature is a proper name and is therefore capitalized; also for temporary distinction a coined name of a region is capitalized.
- the North Atlantic States
- the Gulf States
- the Central States
- the Pacific Coast States
- the Lake States
- East North Central States
- Eastern North Central States
- Far Western States
- Eastern United States
- the West
- the Midwest
- the Middle West
- the Far West
- the Eastern Shore (Chesapeake Bay)
- the Badlands (SD and NE)
- the Continental Divide
- Deep South
- Midsouth
- the Far East
- Far Eastern
- the East
- Middle East
- Middle Eastern
- Mideast
- Mideastern (Asia)
- Near East (Balkans, etc.)
- the Promised Land
- the Continent (continental Europe)
- the Western Hemisphere
- the North Pole
- the North and South Poles
- the Temperate Zone
- the Torrid Zone
- the East Side
- Lower East Side (sections of a city)
- Western Europe, Central Europe (political entities)
- but
- lower 48 (States)
- the Northeast corridor
3.22.
A descriptive term used to denote mere direction or position is not a proper name and is therefore not capitalized.
- north; south; east; west
- northerly; northern; northward
- eastern; oriental; occidental
