When Should You Capitalize Geographic Regions in the United States?

Is Colorado in the west or the West? Did the Allman Brothers Band play southern rock or Southern rock? Am I a midwesterner or a Midwesterner? Today’s post explains when to capitalize geographic regions in the United States. It also looks at when to capitalize those regions when they are used as adjectives and to describe U.S. geographic populations.

U.S. Geographic Regions

Capitalize the traditional geographic regions in the United States: the Midwest, the North, the South, the West, and the combined regions (i.e., the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Southwest).¹

The Midwest is the breadbasket of the United States.

Colorado is part of the Southwest.

U.S. Geographic Regions Used as Adjectives

When using a U.S. geographic region as an adjective, the decision to capitalize or lowercase will depend on your style guide. For example, The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) recommends capitalization:²

Everyone on the bus tour enjoyed the Southern food in Tennessee.

The Starved Rock Lodge offers world-famous Midwestern hospitality in a scenic environment.

AP style is primarily for journalists and writers who want to conform to traditional journalism styles.

In contrast, The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style) recommends lowercasing specific U.S. geographic regions used as adjectives:³

Everyone on the bus tour enjoyed the southern food in Tennessee.

The Starved Rock Lodge offers world-famous midwestern hospitality in a scenic environment.

Chicago style is best for writers who want to adhere to traditional publishing standards and academic writers in non-scientific fields. It is also a great option for general business writing.

Consult your dictionary if your preferred style guide doesn’t address this issue. Our primary dictionaries, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Webster’s New World College Dictionary, and The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language all capitalize U.S. geographic regions when used as adjectives or indicate that these adjectives are typically capitalized.⁴

U.S. Geographic Populations

Like adjectives, the decision to capitalize or lowercase geographic populations in the United States will depend on your style guide. The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) suggests capitalizing terms like Midwesterner, Northerner, Southerner, and Westerner:⁵

In general, Midwesterners are friendly and down to earth.

During the Civil War, Northerners and Southerners battled in twenty-three states.

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style) suggests lowercasing terms like midwesterner, northerner, southerner, and westerner, except when referencing the Civil War, in which case Northerner and Southerner should be capitalized:⁶

In general, midwesterners are friendly and down to earth.

During the Civil War, Northerners and Southerners battled in twenty-three states.

Once again, refer to your dictionary if your preferred style guide doesn’t address this issue. Currently, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary capitalizes Midwesterner, Northerner, Southerner, and Westerner, while Webster’s New World College Dictionary and The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language only capitalize Midwesterner and allow northerner, southerner, and westerner to be capitalized or lowercased.⁷

Are you captivated by capitalization? I have published a variety of other capitalization posts related to time periods, geographic features, people, and product names.

References

1. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 87; The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 8.47.
2. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 87.
3. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 8.47.
4. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th ed., s.vv. “Midwest,” “northern,” “southern,” “western;” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., s.vv. “Midwest,” “northern,” “southern,” “western;” Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 5th ed., s.vv. “Midwestern,” “northern,” “southern,” “western.”
5. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 87.
6. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 8.47.
7. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th ed., s.vv. “Midwest,” “northerner,” “southerner,” “westerner;” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., s.vv. “Midwest,” “Northerner,” “Southerner,” “Westerner;” Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 5th ed., s.vv. “Midwestern,” “northerner,” “southerner,” “westerner.”