WORD-DIVISION RULES
Word division is used to maintain a relatively even right margin. However, any
division that would cause the reader to have difficulty in comprehending or pronouncing
a word should be avoided.
Because electronic dictionaries and word-processing programs may not always
agree with authority for word-division—generally the current edition of MerriamWebster’s Collegiate Dictionary—it is important to review and adjust word-division
decisions. This will be easier to accomplish by using manual rather than automatic
hyphenation.
Do Not Divide
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
One-syllable words: drilled, through, strength.
Amounts of money written in figures: $1,756.09
Abbreviations: UCLA
Contractions: wouldn't, couldn't, don't
A person's name.
Words with fewer than 6 letters (no matter how many syllables): pony, today,
going.
The last word in a page.
The last word on any more than two consecutive lines.
The one-letter syllable at the beginning of a word: (a-round)
In order to discourage incorrect word division, some dictionaries no longer mark
one-letter syllables at the beginning or the end of a word.
10. Do not separate word groups that need to be read together, such as page and
number; month and year; title and surname, etc. Use a nonbreaking space when
keying these groups.
Mrs. Dominguez; 465 miles; 10:30 a.m.; Chapter 15; Adam Hagerty, Jr.
Divide
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Between syllables only: pen-cil, sen-tence, sec-tion. (A dictionary may be necessary
for determining syllabication.)
Only at the already-existing hyphens in a hyphenated word: mother-in-law, selfsufficient.
After the basic word in words ending in "ing": fall-ing, sit-ting
After a one-letter syllable: sepa-rate, capi-tal
Between two one-letter syllables: gradu-ation, humili-ation
Dates at the comma: July 4, 1992
At the point of compound in compound words: Micro-soft
Rev. 1/07