Points of a compass (Cardinal, degree)
There are 4 basic directional indicators used; North South East and West. I assume this is not news to you. A compass uses the same principles and breaks directions down even further to allow more accurate descriptions. When needing to be very accurate you will talk in degrees when general is ok then you will talk in cardinal directions (eg when describing wind direction or the general direction of a track.)
Below you will find two diagrams and a table.
The cardinal points diagram shows a basic compass bevel and the cardinal points
The compass bevel diagram show the mix of cardinal points and degrees that are common on a compass
The Bearing and cardinal points table relates the angle in degrees to a cardinal point and the text descriptor.
- Cardinal Points
- Compass Bevel
- Bearing and Cardinal points table
| Degrees | Cardinal Point | Spoken (lazy) | ||
| 0.00 | N | North | ||
| 11.25 | N by E | North by east | ||
| 22.50 | NNE | North north east (Nor nor east) | ||
| 33.75 | NE by N | North east by north | ||
| 45.00 | NE | North east (nor east) | ||
| 56.25 | NE by E | North east by east | ||
| 67.50 | ENE | East north east | ||
| 78.75 | E by N | East by north | ||
| 90.00 | E | East | ||
| 101.25 | E by S | East by south | ||
| 112.50 | ESE | East south east | ||
| 123.75 | SE by E | South east by east | ||
| 135.00 | SE | South east | ||
| 146.25 | SE by S | South east by south | ||
| 157.50 | SSE | South south east (sou sou east) | ||
| 168.75 | S by E | South by east | ||
| 180.00 | S | South | ||
| 191.25 | S by W | South by west | ||
| 202.50 | SSW | South south west (sou sou west) | ||
| 213.75 | SW by S | South west by south | ||
| 225.00 | SW | South west | ||
| 236.25 | SW by W | South west by west | ||
| 247.50 | WSW | West south west | ||
| 258.75 | W by S | West by south | ||
| 270.00 | W | West | ||
| 281.25 | W by N | West by north | ||
| 292.50 | WNW | West north west | ||
| 303.75 | NW by W | North west by west | ||
| 315.00 | NW | North west (nor west) | ||
| 326.25 | NW by N | North west by north | ||
| 337.50 | NNW | North north west (nor nor west) | ||
| 348.75 | N by W | North by west | ||
| 360.00 | N | North |