Are you confused by the D.C. streets?

The streets in Washington DC run three way:

• East-West: designated alphabetically
• North-South: designated numerically
• Diagonally: have state names

The alphabetical designations of the streets running east-west begin on each side of East Capitol Street and the Mall. The first street on each is A, the next is B, the third is C; on through Y; with no J, X or Z Streets. Once the letters of the alphabet are exhausted, the streets have two-syllable names, then three syllable names, and then names of trees and flowers. Sometimes this system is referred to as the first, second, third and fourth alphabets.

The numerical designations of the streets running North-South begin on each side of North and South Capitol Streets. The first street on each side is First Street, the second is Second Street, and so on.

North, South and East Capitol Streets and the Mall Divide Washington DC into four sections:

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southeast
• Southwest

The streets are identified by the section of the city in which they are located. For example: F Street SW; F Street NW; F Street SE; F Street NE .