Why learning word division is important.

This lesson will help you judge whether or not the word processor has divided a word correctly at the end of a line. In a full-justified format, words are automatically divided at the ends of lines. This format stretches the text to the right margin, giving the text a blocky look. Books, magazines, and newspapers are in a full-justified format to prevent the lines from having too much space between words, or becoming "loose." If the text is not written in the full-justified format, the words may still need to be divided because lines containing many longer words may look too short.

Most business writing today uses a "ragged right" margin, meaning that the text does not line up evenly at the right margin.

The purpose of this lesson is to equip you with the necessary skills to handle proofreading for word division occurring at a variety of line endings.

Word processors do their best to divide words at the right margins, but sometimes they divide words in ways that make it difficult for readers to identify the words. This lesson contains general principles that will help you divide words at the right margin while remaining clear and correct.

Divide words between syllables. (Also see below.)

You may divide words only between syllables. If a word is one syllable, you may not divide it.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect:

    1. thro-
      ugh
    2. bri-
      be
    3. cau-
      ght

Correct:

    1. through
    2. bribe
    3. caught

 

Always leave two letters before divisions and three after:

  1. Always leave at least two letters before the hyphen and three letters after the hyphen.
  2. If the word has fewer than five letters, do not divide it.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect:

    1. al-
      so
    2. a-
      typical
    3. mani-
      ac

Correct:

    1. also
    2. atyp-
      ical
    3. ma-
      niac

 

Do not divide abbreviations, acronyms, contractions, or numbers.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect:

    1. NA-
      ACP
    2. AFL-
      CIO
    3. does-
      n't
    4. $3-
      billion
    5. 4,395,-
      293

Correct:

    1. NAACP
    2. AFL-CIO
    3. doesn't
    4. $3 billion
    5. 4,395,293

 

Do not separate parts of dates, proper names, or addresses. Do not divide a person's name.

Some words must stay together on a line or page. If you must start a new line, move everything to the new line. Do not separate the parts of a date, someone's name, or addresses. Do not divide a person's first name or last name.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect:

    1. January 3,
      2001
    2. Dr. Arthur
      Freemont
    3. Baton Rouge,
      Louisiana
    4. Antoin-
      ette
    5. 43 West Piedmont
      Avenue

Correct:

    1. January 3, 2001
    2. Dr. Arthur Freemont
    3. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    4. Antoinette
    5. 43 West Piedmont Avenue

 

Do not separate words that must be read together.

Many words must be read together to make sense. Dividing them may confuse the reader. If you do not have room on a line, move all of the words that must stay together to the next line.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect:

    1. 9:00
      a.m.
    2. Chapter
      23
    3. page
      16

Correct:

    1. 9:00 a.m.
    2. Chapter 23
    3. page 16