Cardinal Direction - Order of Directions

Order of Directions

This section requires expansion.

While the directions can be listed in any order, most formally in clockwise or counterclockwise order, starting from some point (such as NESW, or, following the sun from daybreak in the northern hemisphere, ESWN), different languages conventionally use different orders, often using pairs of opposite directions. In English, the conventional order of the directions is "north, south, east, and west" (NSEW = N/S + E/W). In Japanese, most common is EWSN (東西南北 = E/W + S/N), and east-west (東西) is idiomatic for “everywhere, in all parts”; Japan is located at the extreme east of Eurasia.

Read more about this topic:  Cardinal Direction

Famous quotes containing the words order of, order and/or directions:

    It is the international system of currency which determines the totality of life on this planet. That is the natural order of things today. That is the atomic, and sub-atomic, and galactic
    structure of things today. And you have meddled with the primal forces of nature! And you will atone! Am I getting through to you, Mr. Beale?
    Paddy Chayefsky (1923–1981)

    “New order of the ages” did we say?
    If it looks none too orderly today,
    ‘Tis a confusion it was ours to start
    So in it have to take courageous part.
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)

    What do you think of us in fuzzy endeavor, you whose directions are sterling, whose lunge is straight?
    Can you make a reason, how can you pardon us who memorize the rules and never score?
    Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)