Eastings and Northings (ING)

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).

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.

The numbers on northings and eastings are often used in questions which require students to provide area or grid references.