directions: capitalization
North as a point of the compass versus North as a name.
Lowercase north, south, east, and west when they name a direction: drive south. Capitalize them when they are part of a proper name, or when they name a recognized region: North Dakota, the South, West Texas. Do not capitalize southern California unless you are treating it as a set name; we lowercase southern in that use.
Examples
Use turn west at the hall
Use the American South
Avoid turn West at the hall