* Are part of a proper noun:
* Examples: The South, the West Coast, the Eastern Hemisphere, North America, Southeast Asia
* Are used as a formal name for a region:
* Examples: The North Pole, The South Bronx, The Midwest, Western Europe
* Are part of a specific geographical feature's name:
* Examples: Lake Superior (part of the Great Lakes), the Western Wall (in Jerusalem), the Northern Lights
You do NOT capitalize regional directions when:
* They are used in a general sense:
* Examples: He traveled east. We went south for the winter. The sun sets in the west.
* They are part of an address:
* Examples: 123 East Main Street, 456 West Avenue
Note:
* Specific regions, even when not formal names, are usually capitalized: the Middle East, the Far East, the Southwest
* Compass points are usually capitalized when used as adjectives: the North Shore, the Western States
* When in doubt, it's usually best to capitalize a regional direction to be on the safe side.