1.10 Addresses: streets and buildings; points of the compass

Streets and buildings

Words such as Street, Avenue, Place, Road, Square, Boulevard, Terrace, Drive, Court and Building are spelled out in general writing but may be abbreviated in footnotes, endnotes, sidenotes, tables and addresses. If the word forms part of a longer name, do not abbreviate it under any circumstances:

• He worked at the Journal Building.
• Get off at Queen Street Station.

Points of the compass

Abbreviate compass directions as follows:

• N, compass direction
• NE
• S
• SW
• E, compass direction
• NNW
• W, compass direction
• ESE

In general writing, the abbreviations NE, NW, SE and SW may be used to denote town and city divisions, but the words north, south, east and west should always be spelled out:

• NW Toronto
• Ottawa east

In general writing, abbreviated compass directions in street addresses are followed by a period:

• 75 Booth St., Street N.

Addresses, Note

On pieces of mail, abbreviated compass directions are not followed by a period.

Do not abbreviate words such as East, West, Southeast, Northwest when they appear before a street name:

• 150 East 52nd Street
• 111 Southeast Central Park Avenue

© Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2013
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