Here's why:
* Directional words are generally lowercase: Words like north, south, east, west, up, down, left, and right are lowercase when they indicate direction.
* Proper nouns are capitalized: If "west" is part of a proper noun (like a place name), then it would be capitalized. For example, "West Virginia" or "the West Coast."
Examples:
* Correct: The sun sets in the west.
* Correct: She walked west on the trail.
* Incorrect: We traveled West to visit family. (Unless you're referring to a specific region named "West")