The bearing of a line is the angular deviation measured in degrees, minutes and seconds from a known line or direction generally true north or south..

A. A cardinal line of true meridian is due north and south; that of true latitude is due east and west.

B. Directions or courses as used in legal descriptions are predicated on the quadrant system of directions. Measurements are made from the original north and south line, thence easterly or westerly to a maximum of 89° 59' 59" (since 90° would be due east or west). There may be instances where measurements are made from the cardinal east and west line, but this is not the general practice.

C. A direction or bearing is described by the number of degrees measured and the relation of the direction from a true meridian (north and south) and a true latitude (east and west). Thus, a direction measured 20 degrees from north towards east would be described as north 20 degrees east or N 20° E.

D. A bearing, which is not always designated in degrees, describes a general course between two known points, such as northerly, etc. In such instances, no bearing or distance may be given as "more or less" except when the line is tied to a monument (known point) that determines its length and bearing regardless of the measurements given.

E. Do not use a reverse bearing. A bearing should designate a continuous course from one point to another, or a direction of movement. To designate a reverse bearing from one point to another is incorrect; that is, to designate a bearing S 45°E as a course when the bearing from said point is45°W to the following point. N 45°W is the same line as S 45°E (see drawing on previous page), but the designation of the line depends on the desired course, such as, from SE to NW or N 45°W.

F. A line recited as "northerly" or "easterly" in a description, unless qualified by a tie to a point, must be considered as bearing "north" or "east" relative to the base (true direction) for the bearings of the description.

G. Descriptions naming the directional value of a line between two known points should be sufficiently specific to prevent uncertainty. It is safe to describe directions between:

N 20°W and N 20°E as northerly,

S 20°W and S 20°E as southerly,

N 70°E and S 70°E as easterly and

N 70°E and N 70°W as westerly.

H. Corners in such locations that directional recital thereof may apply equally well to another nearby corner should be more specifically described to distinguish it from another for which it might be mistaken.