Hyphenation

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Hyphenation

Sometimes we need to split (break) a word at the end of a line, for example:

The directors requested that a more conven-

ient time be arranged.

 

In the above example we have split the word "convenient". We have done this by inserting a hyphen (-) between "conven" and "ient". We have hyphenated "convenient".

In such cases, it is important to insert the hyphen in an appropriate position, that is, between syllables.

Since we insert the hyphen between syllables, it follows that we cannot hyphenate a single-syllable word.

We cannot hyphenate the single-syllable word "friend", for example, but we can hyphenate the three-syllable word "convenient" as "con-venient" or "conven-ient".

To hyphenate correctly, it helps to understand syllables. Every word is made from syllables. Each word has one, two, three or more syllables, as shown in the following chart.

Understanding Syllables

word

number of syllables

dog

dog

1

green

green

1

quite

quite

1

quiet

qui-et

2

orange

or-ange

2

table

ta-ble

2

convenient

con-ven-ient

3

expensive

ex-pen-sive

3

interesting

in-ter-est-ing

4

realistic

re-al-is-tic

4

unexceptional

un-ex-cep-tion-al

5

 

Notice that (with a few rare exceptions) every syllable contains at least one vowel (a, e, i, o or u) or vowel sound.