1. Proofreading and Editing
Chapter 4 Word Division

2. Dividing Words Con-ver-sa-tion Con-versation Conversa-tion
We are NOT dividing words by ALL of their syllables.
Example: the word Conversation has four(4) syllables.
Con-ver-sa-tion
When we divide this word, we will not use all four(4) syllables.
We will divide the word between one of the syllables depending on the rules for word division.
Con-versation
Conversa-tion

3. Dividing Words Avoid dividing words at the end of a line or page.
Why?
Because the division may change the meaning of the sentence.
Divide words only between syllables
Do not divide one syllable words
Examples
brush, mashed, point, cough, vibes
Do not divide contractions, abbreviations, or numbers
Avoid dividing a word with fewer than six letters

4. Dividing Words
Do not divide single words that begin and end in single letters
Examples
Able, icy, utopia, above, unit
Divide after, not before a single letter syllable word
Maxi-mum, bene-fit
When you have two single-vowel syllable words, divide between those syllables
Cre-ative, reli-able

5. Dividing Words Divide between double consonants
Examples
Recom-mend, mid-dle
If the double consonant end the root word, divide after the double consonant.
Drill-ing, dress-ing

6. Dividing Words
Divide after the prefix of and after the suffix of a word leaving the root word undivided
Examples
Un-aware, pre-school
Divide solid compound words where the two are joined
Data-base, paper-work
Divide hyphenated compound words after the hyphen
Cross-cultrual, start-up

7. Dividing Words
Avoid dividing an address for a Web site on the Internet or an address
If you need to divide a Web site address, break it after the double slash
Example
becomes OR
You may divide a Web address at the dot, hyphen, single slash or any other punctuation mark
Example of end of line Web address division
(line 1) news.com (line 2)

8. Dividing Words
When you break a Web site address or address at the end of a line DO NOT use a hyphen. This can be interpreted as part of the address.

9. Dividing Web site and email addresses
For address
Break the address either before symbol or before the dot.
End of line
Dallas.morning.news.com

10. Unit information Don’t divide information that is read as a unit.
Examples
A person’s name
Address
Date
Unit in measure – 25 ft.

11. Leave two letters
Leave at least two letters on the line with a hyphen, and
Carry over at least three letters (or two letters plus a punctuation mark)
Examples
Al-ready,
Custom-er.

12. 2 consecutive lines with hyphens
You can end two consecutive lines with a hyphen, but not three

13. Avoid first and last full lines
Avoid dividing the first line and the last full line of a paragraph

14. Don’t divide the last word
Do not divide the last word on a page.

15. Revision Symbols
The insert a hyphen, use the inverted caret and the = sign
Example =