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Hyphenation ofattention-getting

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

at-ten-tion-get-ting

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

/əˈtɛnʃən ˈɡɛtɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0-1-0-0-1

Primary stress falls on the second syllable of 'attention' (/ˈtɛnʃən/) and on the second syllable of 'getting' (/ˈɡɛtɪŋ/). The overall stress pattern is 0-1-0-0-1.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

at/æt/

Open syllable, initial syllable, unstressed.

ten/tɛn/

Open syllable, stressed.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

get/ɡɛt/

Open syllable, initial syllable of the second word, unstressed.

ting/tɪŋ/

Closed syllable, stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

at-(prefix)
+
get(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: at-

Old French origin, intensifying or directing attention.

Root: get

Old English origin, meaning 'obtain, acquire'.

Suffix: -ing

Old English origin, forming gerunds/present participles.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Designed to attract or hold someone's interest; noteworthy.

Examples:

"The speaker delivered an attention-getting presentation."

"The advertisement was an attention-getting campaign."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

informationin-for-ma-tion

Similar vowel reduction in the first syllable and stress on the second syllable.

communicationcom-mu-ni-ca-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar stress patterns.

understandingun-der-stand-ing

Similar structure with a root and '-ing' suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Division

Dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant sound) and rime (vowel and following consonants).

Vowel-Consonant Division

Dividing syllables after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Division

Dividing syllables between consonant clusters surrounding a vowel.

Special Considerations

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

Potential for differing interpretations of syllable boundaries based on phonetic realization, but the orthographic form dictates the division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'attention-getting' is a compound adjective divided into five syllables: at-ten-tion-get-ting. It's formed from the root 'ten' (to hold) with the prefix 'at-' and suffix '-tion', combined with the root 'get' and suffix '-ing'. Stress falls on the second syllable of each component word. Syllabification follows standard English rules of onset-rime, vowel-consonant, and consonant-vowel-consonant division.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "attention-getting"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "attention-getting" is pronounced /əˈtɛnʃən ˈɡɛtɪŋ/ in US English. It's a compound adjective formed by combining "attention" and "getting."

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: at-ten-tion-get-ting

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: at- (Old French origin, intensifying or directing attention) - functions as a prefix modifying the root.
  • Root: ten (Latin tenēre 'to hold') - forms the core of "attention," meaning 'holding the mind'.
  • Suffix: -tion (Latin origin, forming nouns from verbs) - transforms "attend" into the noun "attention."
  • Root: get (Old English origin, meaning 'obtain, acquire') - core of "getting".
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English origin, forming gerunds/present participles) - indicates ongoing action.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable of "attention" (/ˈtɛnʃən/) and on the second syllable of "getting" (/ˈɡɛtɪŋ/). The overall stress pattern is therefore: 0-1-0-0-1.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/əˈtɛnʃən ˈɡɛtɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated nature of the compound adjective doesn't significantly alter syllabification rules. The division within each component word ("attention" and "getting") follows standard English syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Attention-getting" functions primarily as an adjective. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Designed to attract or hold someone's interest; noteworthy.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: interesting, captivating, engaging, striking, noticeable
  • Antonyms: boring, uninteresting, dull, unremarkable
  • Examples: "The speaker delivered an attention-getting presentation." "The advertisement was an attention-getting campaign."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "information": in-for-ma-tion. Similar vowel reduction in the first syllable (/ɪn/) and stress on the second syllable.
  • "communication": com-mu-ni-ca-tion. Shares the "-tion" suffix and similar stress patterns.
  • "understanding": un-der-stand-ing. Similar structure with a root and "-ing" suffix, though stress falls on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable count and stress placement are due to the varying lengths and complexities of the root words.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • at /æt/ - Open syllable, initial syllable. Rule: Onset-rime division. No exceptions.
  • ten /tɛn/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel-consonant division. No exceptions.
  • tion /ʃən/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Consonant-vowel-consonant division. Potential exception: /ʃ/ sound can sometimes lead to a different perception of syllable boundaries, but the written form dictates this division.
  • get /ɡɛt/ - Open syllable, initial syllable of the second word. Rule: Onset-rime division. No exceptions.
  • ting /tɪŋ/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Consonant-vowel-consonant division. No exceptions.

Exceptions and Special Cases:

The primary exception considered is the potential for differing interpretations of syllable boundaries based on phonetic realization, but the orthographic form dictates the division.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime Division: Dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant sound) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
  • Vowel-Consonant Division: Dividing syllables after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound.
  • Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Division: Dividing syllables between consonant clusters surrounding a vowel.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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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.