northeast by east
Very LowTechnical / Nautical / Formal
Definition
Meaning
A compass point or direction, precisely 33°45′ (or 11.25°) from north towards east.
Used in maritime, aviation, and land navigation to denote a specific heading between the cardinal/intercardinal direction of northeast (045°) and the next quarter point (east-northeast at 067°30′).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is one of the 32 traditional 'points of the compass' in the mariner's compass system. Its primary function is directional precision, with minimal metaphorical or figurative use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties, as the terminology is international maritime standard. No spelling or lexical differences apply.
Connotations
Technical, precise, traditional navigation.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, limited to specific professional or recreational nautical/aviation contexts and historical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The ship sailed [northeast by east]The wind shifted to [northeast by east]Set a course for [northeast by east]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are no common idioms featuring 'northeast by east'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in historical, geographical, or navigational studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only used by sailors, pilots, or in specific orienteering/hiking contexts.
Technical
Primary context. Used in navigation (nautical, aeronautical), cartography, and surveying for precise bearing designation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- The old schooner was sailing northeast by east.
- We proceeded northeast by east along the coast.
American English
- The plane was flying northeast by east.
- Turn the antenna northeast by east for the best signal.
adjective
British English
- The northeast-by-east heading proved difficult to maintain in the heavy swell.
- We took a northeast-by-east bearing on the distant peak.
American English
- The northeast-by-east course was plotted carefully on the chart.
- He gave a northeast-by-east direction to the lookout.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- On the map, the lighthouse is to the northeast by east of the harbour.
- The wind is coming from the northeast by east today.
- The captain ordered a change of course to northeast by east to avoid the sandbank.
- From our position, the capital lies roughly northeast by east.
- To intercept the convoy, we altered our heading from due northeast to northeast by east, gaining a slight tactical advantage.
- The ancient navigational manual described the island as lying 'northeast by east, a distance of twenty leagues' from the cape.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clock face: North is 12. Northeast is 1:30. 'By east' means tilt slightly more towards the 3 o'clock (east) position.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A POINT ON A COMPASS ROSE / PRECISE NAVIGATION IS A VIRTUE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct word-for-word translation ('северо-восток на восток') is incorrect and not used in Russian navigation. The correct equivalent is the specific compass bearing '33°45′' or 'СВтВ' (северо-восток-тень-восток) in the Russian 32-point system.
- Confusing it with simple 'northeast' (северо-восток).
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'northeast by east' as one word ('northeastbyeast').
- Incorrectly placing the 'by' phrase (e.g., 'east by northeast').
- Using it in non-directional contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In the traditional 32-point compass system, what is the angular difference between 'Northeast' and 'Northeast by east'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Northeast by east' (NEbE) is 33.75°, while 'East-northeast' (ENE) is 67.5°. They are distinct points on the compass.
Primarily in nautical navigation, both traditional sailing and modern recreational boating, as well as in aviation and land surveying for precise directional reference.
It would sound extremely technical and archaic. In everyday contexts, you would say 'a bit east of northeast' or simply give a degree bearing like '35 degrees'.
The standard abbreviation is 'NEbE', often written in capital letters without spaces or periods.