HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofconscientiousness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-sci-en-ti-ous-ness

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛntʃəsnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010010

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('ous'), and secondary stress on the first syllable ('con').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

con/kɒn/

Open syllable, onset 'c', nucleus 'o', coda 'n'

sci/ʃi/

Closed syllable, onset 'sc' (digraph /ʃ/), nucleus 'i'

en/ɛn/

Open syllable, onset 'e', nucleus 'e', coda 'n'

ti/ti/

Closed syllable, onset 't', nucleus 'i'

ous/əʊʃ/

Open syllable, onset 'o', nucleus 'ou' (diphthong /əʊ/), coda 's'

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, onset 'n', nucleus 'e', coda 's'

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

con(prefix)
+
scient(root)
+
ious(suffix)

Prefix: con

Latin origin, meaning 'with, together'

Root: scient

Latin origin (*scientia*), meaning 'knowledge'

Suffix: ious

Latin origin (*-iosus*), adjectival suffix meaning 'full of'

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality of being careful, diligent, and thorough.

Examples:

"Her conscientiousness ensured the project was completed to a high standard."

"He approached the task with remarkable conscientiousness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

consciousnesscon-sci-ous-ness

Shares the 'con-sci-' root and '-ness' suffix, similar syllabic structure.

deliciousnessde-li-cious-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, demonstrating a consistent syllabic pattern for nominalization.

ambitiousnessam-bi-tious-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, demonstrating a consistent syllabic pattern for nominalization.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound, especially when followed by a consonant.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable, unless they can be naturally separated based on pronunciation (e.g., 'sc' as a single sound).

Digraph Recognition

Digraphs (like 'sc', 'ou') are treated as single units when determining syllable boundaries.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The 'sci' cluster requires knowledge of digraph pronunciation.

Vowel sequences like 'ou' require consideration of diphthongization.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist, but do not significantly alter syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'conscientiousness' is divided into six syllables: con-sci-en-ti-ous-ness. It is morphologically complex, built from Latin roots and suffixes. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable. Syllable division follows standard English rules, considering vowel-consonant patterns, consonant clusters, and digraphs.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "conscientiousness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "conscientiousness" is a complex noun, derived from Latin roots. Its pronunciation in GB English is generally /ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛntʃəsnəs/. It presents challenges due to the consonant clusters and vowel sequences.

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters): con-sci-en-ti-ous-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: con- (Latin, meaning "with, together") - functions as a prefix indicating a shared quality or state.
  • Root: scient (Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") - the core meaning relating to awareness and understanding.
  • Suffix: -ious (Latin -iosus, adjectival suffix meaning "full of, characterized by") - forms an adjective.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, nominalizing suffix) - transforms the adjective into a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: con-sci-en-ti-ous-ness. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: con-sci-en-ti-ous-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛntʃəsnəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • con-: /kɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Nucleus + Coda. 'con' is a valid onset and nucleus combination.
  • sci-: /ʃi/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset + Nucleus. The 'sc' digraph represents /ʃ/, forming a valid onset.
  • en-: /ɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Nucleus + Coda.
  • ti-: /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset + Nucleus.
  • ous-: /əʊʃ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Nucleus + Coda. The 'ou' digraph represents /əʊ/.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset + Nucleus + Coda.

7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:

The 'sci' cluster is a common exception, requiring knowledge of digraph pronunciation. The vowel sequences ('ou' in 'ous') also require consideration of diphthongization.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

"Conscientiousness" primarily functions as a noun. If a related adjective "conscientious" were analyzed, the stress would shift to the fourth syllable: con-sci-en-ti-ous. The syllable division would remain the same, but the prominence would change.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality of being careful, diligent, and thorough.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: diligence, meticulousness, thoroughness, scrupulousness
  • Antonyms: carelessness, negligence, laxity
  • Examples: "Her conscientiousness ensured the project was completed to a high standard." "He approached the task with remarkable conscientiousness."

10. Alternative Pronunciations & Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, leading to a slightly different phonetic realization. However, the core syllable division remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • consciousness: con-sci-ous-ness - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • deliciousness: de-li-cious-ness - Similar suffix, stress on the third syllable.
  • ambitiousness: am-bi-tious-ness - Similar suffix, stress on the third syllable.

The consistent use of the "-ness" suffix creates a predictable syllabic pattern. The differences in stress placement are due to the varying number of syllables preceding the suffix and the inherent stress patterns of the root words.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

The hottest word splits in English (GB)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.