northing—A linear distance northward from the east-west line through the origin (or false origin) of a grid.  The false origin is selected when it is expedient to exclude the opposite term – southing – from the project survey coordinate system.  Same as y-coordinate

northing, false—A value assigned to the origin of nothings, or latitudes of a coordinate system, to avoid the inconvenience of using negative latitudes.  See also coordinates, grid.

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Source: NSPS “Definitions of Surveying and Related Terms“, used with permission.

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