Yes, Midwest is capitalized in AP style when it refers to a specific, recognized region of the United States.
Understanding AP Style Capitalization for Regions
According to AP style guidelines, terms for directions and regions should be capitalized when they designate specific geographic areas or well-defined regions. This rule helps distinguish between a general direction (e.g., moving west) and a proper noun referring to a distinct territory (e.g., the West Coast).
When to Capitalize "Midwest"
You should capitalize "Midwest" when it clearly refers to the geographic and cultural region of the central United States. This application treats "Midwest" as a proper noun.
- Designating a Region: When referring to "the Midwest" as a distinct part of the country.
- Example: The storm system developed in the Midwest.
- Example: Many industries are centered in the Midwest.
- Example: She grew up in a small town in the Midwest.
When Not to Capitalize Directional Terms
It's important to differentiate between a recognized region and a general direction or an adjective describing a location. When a word like "midwest" (or north, south, east, west) simply indicates a compass direction or a general part of a state/country, it should not be capitalized.
- General Direction:
- Example: We drove west for two hours.
- Example: The wind blew from the northwest.
- Adjective: When used to describe something without referring to the specific region.
- Example: They have a midwestern accent. (Here, "midwestern" is an adjective, not the proper noun "Midwest.")
- Example: The eastern part of the state experienced heavy rainfall.
AP Style Regional Capitalization Summary
To further clarify, here's a quick reference for common regional terms in AP style:
| Term | Capitalization | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest | Capitalized | When referring to the U.S. region | He traveled throughout the Midwest. |
| Northern | Capitalized | When part of a recognized region's name | The company expanded into Northern Europe. |
| southern | Lowercase | When describing a general direction/part | The town is in the southern part of the county. |
| South | Capitalized | When referring to the U.S. region (e.g., The South) | History books often discuss the Civil War in the South. |
| west | Lowercase | When referring to a general direction | They drove west until sunset. |
| West | Capitalized | When referring to a recognized region (e.g., the American West) | The West offers diverse landscapes. |
