points of the compass

[Student33]

which of the following is correct please:
1.What borders Canada <from/to> the west?

Are the following correct?

1. X is to the south of Y.
2. X is south of Y.

[Marius Hancu]

to

In published books:

18 on "borders Canada to the"
http://books.google.com/books?q=%22borders+Canada+to+the%22&btnG=Search+Books

0 on "borders Canada from the"
http://books.google.com/books?q=%22borders+Canada+from+the%22&btnG=Search+Books

Those two at the end are correct.

[Bridget]

Also: "What borders Canada on the west?"

[MrPedantic]

1. X is to the south of Y.
2. X is south of Y.

To my mind, "south of" seems more precise, while "to the south" implies "generally south"; but no doubt the interpretation would vary, from speaker to speaker.

MrP