mapmaking patterns

The dominant axis of a geographic feature may not align with the graticule. Using the graticule to align a map with a focus on such a feature will generate much non-informative map space and perhaps a nervous ticking of the map reader’s head.

Rotate the map to align with the dominant axis of the geographic feature that you are mapping. Be aware that by doing this, you will be facilitating mental map development based on relative rather than absolute reference frames. This means that you may be making it more difficult for people to locate features with respect to cardinal directions.