"In 1982, there was a coffee shop in the north-west corner, toilets in the south-west corner, a sports store in the north-east corner, and..."

[hardyweineberg]

I wrote these paragraphs, and I have one question.

"In 1982, there was a coffee shop in the north-west corner, toilets in the south-west corner, a sports store in the north-east corner, and a furniture store in the south-east corner."

"By 2012, although the entrance, entertainment area, elevator, and toilets retained their position and size, the coffee shop had been removed, and the food store had been moved to the south east corner, allowing the relocation of the sports store and electronic store to the front of the entertainment area."

Is it acceptable to use words such as "south-east corner" and "north-west corner" when you are describing the interior of a building?

Someone told me that cardinal directions are not used to describe the inside of buildings. I don't know whether I should write "top left corner" or "left upper corner" instead of "north-west corner".

 

[teechar]

I should write "top left corner" or "left upper corner" instead of "north-west corner".

Those are safer because someone might potentially argue that you don't really know the exact (compass) orientation of the diagram. Also, change "had been removed" to something like "had disappeared". It doesn't sound great to say "had been removed" and "had moved" in such close proximity.

 

[5jj]

Unlike teechar, I prefer compass points. Things like 'top left' work only if you have the plan in front of you.

 

[Tarheel]

I'm pretty sure that in American English we say sporting goods store.