Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or process of connecting words or parts of words with a hyphen (-). This is a punctuation practice used to form compound words or to link the parts of a word divided between two lines.
   • The division of a word, especially at the end of a line of text. This refers to the practice of splitting a word with a hyphen when it does not fit completely on one line, indicating it continues on the next line.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The hyphenation of "mother-in-law" is standard in English.
  • Modern word processors handle automatic hyphenation for justified text.
  • The editor checked the manuscript for correct hyphenation at line breaks.

Advanced Usage

• "Justified hyphenation": The use of hyphenation to create a straight right margin in a block of text.
  • The book's formal layout required justified hyphenation.
• "Optional hyphenation": A hyphen inserted to show where a word be divided if necessary, often called a "soft hyphen" in digital typesetting.
  • The designer added optional hyphenation points to the long words.

Variants and Related Words

• Hyphenate (verb): To connect or write with a hyphen.
  • You should hyphenate that compound adjective.
• Hyphenated (adjective): Written with a hyphen; often used to describe dual heritage (e.g., ). This is a distinct, common usage of the related form.
  • "Well-known" is a hyphenated adjective.
• Dehyphenate (verb): To remove a hyphen from.
  • The style guide changed, so we must dehyphenate "email".

Synonyms

• Word division (specifically for splitting at line ends).
• Syllabification (the division of words into syllables, which often guides hyphenation).

Related Phrases

• Hyphenation algorithm: A set of rules or software logic for determining where to divide words.
  • The new hyphenation algorithm handles complex compound words better.
• Hyphenation point: A place in a word where it is permissible to insert a hyphen for line division.
  • The dictionary marks the primary hyphenation points.

Noun

1. connecting syllables and words by hyphens
2. division of a word especially at the end of a line on a page