Flow chart

Why is this relevant? How is it used?

Every map in geography has a series of even vertical and horizontal lines drawn on the map which divide the map into rows and columns of little boxes. These lines are then numbered, which provides a way of referring to particular places and locations on the map.

If we did not have this grid system, it would be impossible to tell another person where on a map a particular house, bridge, or river was.

Discussion

The vertical and horizontal lines that are placed on a map have particular names, northings, and eastings.

The northings are the horizontal lines, and the number written on each of the northings increases from the bottom of the map to the top of the map. They are called northings because these numbers increase as you move north on the map.

The eastings are the vertical lines, and the number written on each of the eastings increases from the left hand side of the map to the right hand side of the map. They are called eastings because there numbers increase as you move east on the map.

In the picture below, you can see that the numbers for the horizontal lines increase going north (so the horizontal lines are called northings) and the numbers for the vertical lines increase going east (so the vertical lines are called eastings).

Common errors

A common error with northings and eastings is to think that northings must point north. In fact, northings do not point north – they increase as they move higher north.

You can remember northings and eastings by remembering that northings do not point north.

How is this tested or examined?

The numbers on northings and eastings are often used in questions which require students to provide area or grid references.  They may also be examined by requiring students to label the northings and eastings on a map, or multiple choice questions in the following form:

Which of the following is true

(a) Northings are the vertical lines on a map

(b) Eastings are the horizontal lines on map

(c) Northings are the horizontal lines on a map

(d) None of the above

Further resources

Exercises