Western Europe should be capitalized. When we refer to the region of Europe known as Western Europe, we capitalize the noun “Europe” as it is a proper noun. However, it’s important to note that we do not capitalize the adjective “western” unless it is the first word in a sentence or part of a proper noun.
This capitalization rule is consistent with the general practice of capitalizing proper nouns and not capitalizing adjectives. By capitalizing “Western Europe,” we give it a distinct and specific identity as a region within the larger continent of Europe.
It’s worth mentioning that the capitalization of geographical regions can sometimes vary depending on style guides or specific contexts. However, the convention of capitalizing the noun and not the adjective is widely accepted and recommended in English language usage.
Regarding the absence of capitalization for “northern” and “southern” Europe, it is important to understand that these terms can also be capitalized when they form part of a proper noun or are used in specific contexts. For example, if we refer to a specific region or organization called “Northern Europe” or “Southern Europe,” then the capitalization would be appropriate. However, when used as general directional descriptors, they are not typically capitalized.
The general rule is to capitalize the noun “Europe” when referring to specific regions such as Western Europe, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the adjectives “western,” “central,” “eastern,” “northern,” and “southern” are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a proper noun.