What if a place is not exactly north and not exactly east, but in between? We use the in-between directions.
Key idea
The four in-between directions are northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW) and northwest (NW). Each one is halfway between two cardinal directions.
Why it works
Four directions leave big gaps. Eight directions point more exactly, so you can say where things are without long explanations. Sailors and pilots use even more.
Worked example: Name the corner
In the picture above, which way is the park from the house?
- The park is up and to the right.
- Up is north and right is east.
- Put them together, north first: northeast.
Answer: Northeast.
Common mistake
Children sometimes say "eastnorth" or "westsouth." In-between directions always start with north or south: northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest.
For the grown-up. Stand in the middle of a room facing north. Point to the corners together and name them: "That corner is northeast."