east by north
Very LowTechnical
Definition
Meaning
A compass point located one quarter of the way between east and north-east.
A precise nautical or navigational direction corresponding to 78°45′ on a compass (or 11.25° north of due east).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a compound point of the compass, part of the 32-point system used traditionally in navigation, meteorology, and surveying. It is not used in general directional conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences. Usage is identical in both varieties, confined to technical maritime, meteorological, or historical contexts.
Connotations
Technical precision, traditional navigation, sailing heritage.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language. Used almost exclusively in nautical, aviation, or related technical manuals, historical texts, and by enthusiasts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The ship set a course of east by north.The wind shifted to east by north.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Steer east by north' - a specific navigational command.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, geographical, or nautical studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary domain: navigation (nautical/aviation), meteorology (wind direction), cartography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- We sailed east by north for six hours.
American English
- The plane flew east by north to avoid the storm.
adjective
British English
- An east-by-north bearing.
American English
- An east-by-north heading.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The compass can show directions like east by north.
- The old map noted the lighthouse was positioned east by north from the harbour entrance.
- The captain adjusted the helm, ordering a new course of east by north to make the best of the shifting winds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the order: 'East BY North' means you start facing East, then turn a little bit TOWARDS the North.
Conceptual Metaphor
Precision as a point on a circle; tradition as a link to historic navigation.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'восток на север' or 'восток от севера'. The concept of compound compass points ('by') does not have a direct equivalent. It is best understood as a technical bearing.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'east by north' with 'north by east' or 'east-north-east'.
- Using it in general directions instead of just saying 'east' or 'north-east'.
- Misspelling as 'east by northern'.
Practice
Quiz
In modern navigation, 'east by north' is closest to which true bearing?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. North-east (NE) is exactly halfway between north and east (45°). East by north (EbN) is only 11.25° north of due east (78.75°).
Primarily in historical sailing literature, nautical charts, traditional weather reports (e.g., 'wind east by north'), or among sailing enthusiasts using traditional navigation methods.
The standard abbreviation in navigational contexts is 'EbN'.
The precise opposite of east by north (78.75°) is west by south (258.75°).