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Hyphenation: meaning, definitions and examples

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hyphenation

 

[ ˌhaɪfəˈneɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

writing technique

Hyphenation is the process of dividing a word at the end of a line with a hyphen, so that part of the word can appear at the end of one line and the rest at the beginning of the next line. This technique helps to improve the layout of text and maintains the readability of written material. It is commonly used in typesetting and word processing.

Synonyms

syllabication, word division

Examples of usage

  • Proper hyphenation improves readability.
  • Hyphenation can avoid awkward spaces.
  • Check hyphenation settings in your software.

Translations

Translations of the word "hyphenation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hifenização

🇮🇳 हाइफ़नेशन

🇩🇪 Silbentrennung

🇮🇩 pemisahan suku kata

🇺🇦 перенос слів

🇵🇱 dzielenie wyrazów

🇯🇵 ハイフネーション

🇫🇷 césure

🇪🇸 división silábica

🇹🇷 hece ayırma

🇰🇷 하이퍼네이션

🇸🇦 فصل الكلمات

🇨🇿 dělení slov

🇸🇰 delenie slov

🇨🇳 音节分割

🇸🇮 delitev besed

🇮🇸 orðaröðun

🇰🇿 буындарды бөлу

🇬🇪 სილაბების გაწყვეტა

🇦🇿 heca ayırma

🇲🇽 división silábica

Etymology

The term 'hyphenation' comes from the word 'hyphen', which is derived from the Greek word 'hyphen', meaning 'together'. The use of hyphens in writing has a long history, dating back to ancient manuscripts where scribes sought to link words together to create a more fluid reading experience. Hyphens became more standardized with the advent of printing, where typesetters had to consider the physical layout of types and the need to balance line lengths. In the context of modern writing, hyphenation not only assists in line formatting but also plays a role in word formation and clarity, allowing for clearer distinctions between complex terms.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,930 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.