HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofelectrophotography

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

el-ec-tro-pho-to-gra-phy

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

/ɪˌlɛktrəʊfəˈtɒɡrəfi/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010110

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('to-'). Secondary stress is possible on 'electro-', but less prominent.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

el/el/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

ec/ɛk/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.

tro/ˈtrəʊ/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant cluster, primary stress.

pho/fə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel following a consonant.

to/tə/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant, primary stress.

gra/ɡrə/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant cluster.

phy/fi/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

electro-(prefix)
+
photo-(root)
+
-graphy(suffix)

Prefix: electro-

Greek origin, relating to electricity

Root: photo-

Greek origin, relating to light

Suffix: -graphy

Greek origin, indicating a process of recording

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A dry photocopying technique using electrostatic attraction of toner to a charged drum.

Examples:

"Electrophotography is widely used in modern office printers."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Photographypho-to-gra-phy

Shares the 'photo-' root and '-graphy' suffix, similar stress pattern.

Telegraphyte-le-gra-phy

Shares the '-graphy' suffix and a similar syllabic structure.

Biotechnologybio-tech-no-lo-gy

Demonstrates a similar pattern of combining prefixes and suffixes with a root, but with a more complex syllable count.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Syllables are built around a vowel nucleus, with consonants forming the onset and/or rime.

Vowel-Consonant Division

Vowels are assigned to the syllable where they fall, creating open or closed syllables.

Consonant Cluster Maintenance

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within the onset of a syllable if possible.

Special Considerations

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

The 'ph' sequence is treated as a single onset consonant cluster.

The word's length and complex morphology contribute to its relatively uncommon usage.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Electrophotography is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable ('to-'). It's formed from the Greek roots 'electro-', 'photo-', and the suffix '-graphy'. Syllable division follows the Onset-Rime principle, maintaining consonant clusters where possible.

Detailed Analysis:

Electrophotography Syllable Analysis (English (GB))

1. IPA Transcription: /ɪˌlɛktrəʊfəˈtɒɡrəfi/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

  • Prefix: electro- (Greek elektron - amber, referring to electricity). Function: Indicates relation to electricity.
  • Root: photo- (Greek phos, photos - light). Function: Indicates relation to light.
  • Suffix: -graphy (Greek graphō - to write, to record). Function: Indicates a process of recording or writing.

3. Stressed Syllables: The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ɪˌlɛktrəʊfəˈtɒɡrəfi/.

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • el-: /el/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No special cases.
  • ec-: /ɛk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster. No special cases.
  • tro-: /ˈtrəʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant cluster. No special cases.
  • pho-: /fə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Schwa vowel following a consonant. No special cases.
  • to-: /tə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant. No special cases.
  • gra-: /ɡrə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant cluster. No special cases.
  • phy: /fi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant. No special cases.

5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:

  • The primary rule applied is the "Onset-Rime" principle, where syllables are built around a vowel nucleus.
  • Consonant clusters are generally maintained within the onset (beginning) of a syllable if possible.
  • Vowels are assigned to the syllable where they fall, creating open or closed syllables.
  • Schwa vowels (/ə/) are common in unstressed syllables.

6. Exceptions/Special Cases:

  • The sequence "ph" is treated as a single onset consonant cluster.
  • The stress pattern is somewhat complex, with secondary stress potentially on "electro-", but the primary stress is firmly on "to-".

7. Word-Level Exceptions:

  • The word's length and complex morphology make it a relatively uncommon word, so there are fewer established variations in pronunciation or syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

  • "Electrophotography" functions primarily as a noun. Its syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical role. It doesn't readily convert to other parts of speech.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A dry photocopying technique using electrostatic attraction of toner to a charged drum.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Xerography, electrostatic printing
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples: "Electrophotography is widely used in modern office printers."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

  • Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "phot-" to /fɒt/ instead of /fəʊ/. This would not significantly alter the syllable division.
  • Regional accents in the UK might influence the vowel quality, but the core syllabic structure remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Photography: pho-to-gra-phy (4 syllables) - Similar structure, with "photo-" as a common element. Stress pattern is also similar.
  • Telegraphy: te-le-gra-phy (4 syllables) - Shares the "-graphy" suffix and a similar syllabic structure.
  • Biotechnology: bio-tech-no-lo-gy (5 syllables) - Demonstrates a similar pattern of combining prefixes and suffixes with a root, but with a more complex syllable count. The presence of multiple consonant clusters influences the syllable division.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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 splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.