HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofcontradictoriness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tra-dic-to-ri-ness

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

/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable (/dɪk/). The stress pattern is indicative of the word's length and complex morphology.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

con/kɒn/

Open syllable, onset consonant

tra/trə/

Open syllable, consonant cluster onset

dic/dɪk/

Closed syllable, onset consonant

to/tə/

Open syllable, onset consonant

ri/rɪ/

Open syllable, onset consonant

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, onset consonant

Morphemic Breakdown

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

contra-(prefix)
+
dict-(root)
+
-toriness(suffix)

Prefix: contra-

Latin origin, meaning 'against, opposite'. Creates opposition.

Root: dict-

Latin origin (dicere 'to say'). Core meaning related to speaking or asserting.

Suffix: -toriness

Combination of -tor (Latin, agentive suffix) and -ness (English, nominalizing suffix). Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being contradictory; the extent to which something is self-contradictory.

Examples:

"The politician's statements were full of contradictoriness."

"The contradictoriness of the evidence made it difficult to reach a verdict."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

universityu-ni-ver-si-ty

Similar length and suffixation (-ity). Stress falls on the third syllable.

responsibilityre-spon-si-bi-li-ty

Similar suffix structure (-ity). Stress falls on the third syllable.

opportunityop-por-tu-ni-ty

Similar suffix structure (-ity). Stress falls on the third syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are generally kept together as onsets.

Consonant-Vowel Pattern

Syllables typically follow a consonant-vowel (CV) pattern.

Vowel After Consonant

A vowel following a consonant usually forms a new syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules.

The presence of multiple suffixes and the Latinate root contribute to its complexity.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contradictoriness' is divided into six syllables: con-tra-dic-to-ri-ness. It features a Latin-derived prefix and root, combined with English suffixes. Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. Syllable division follows principles of onset maximization and the consonant-vowel pattern.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "contradictoriness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "contradictoriness" is pronounced /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪnəs/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology.

2. Syllable Division:

con-tra-dic-to-ri-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: contra- (Latin, meaning "against, opposite") - Function: Creates opposition.
  • Root: dict- (Latin, from dicere "to say") - Function: Core meaning related to speaking or asserting.
  • Suffix: -tor (Latin, agentive suffix, forming a noun denoting an actor) - Function: Forms a noun indicating someone who contradicts.
  • Suffix: -i- (Latin, connecting vowel) - Function: Connects root and following suffix.
  • Suffix: -ness (English, nominalizing suffix) - Function: Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪnəs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes can lead to ambiguity in syllable division for some speakers. However, the principle of maximizing onsets (consonant sounds starting a syllable) is generally followed.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contradictoriness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being contradictory; the extent to which something is self-contradictory.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: inconsistency, paradox, self-contradiction
  • Antonyms: consistency, coherence, agreement
  • Examples: "The politician's statements were full of contradictoriness." "The contradictoriness of the evidence made it difficult to reach a verdict."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "university": u-ni-ver-si-ty. Similar in length and suffixation. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • "responsibility": re-spon-si-bi-li-ty. Similar suffix structure (-ity). Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • "opportunity": op-por-tu-ni-ty. Similar suffix structure (-ity). Stress falls on the third syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "contradictoriness" (fourth syllable) compared to the others (third syllable) is due to the weight of the prefix "contra-" and the complex root "dict-". The longer prefix and root create a natural rhythmic grouping that shifts the stress.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
con /kɒn/ Open syllable, onset consonant Onset Maximization, Vowel After Consonant None
tra /trə/ Open syllable, consonant cluster onset Onset Maximization, Vowel After Consonant Cluster None
dic /dɪk/ Closed syllable, onset consonant Consonant-Vowel Pattern None
to /tə/ Open syllable, onset consonant Vowel After Consonant None
ri /rɪ/ Open syllable, onset consonant Vowel After Consonant None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, onset consonant Consonant-Vowel Pattern None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together as onsets.
  2. Consonant-Vowel Pattern: Syllables typically follow a consonant-vowel (CV) pattern.
  3. Vowel After Consonant: A vowel following a consonant usually forms a new syllable.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules. The presence of multiple suffixes and the Latinate root contribute to its complexity.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables (e.g., /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪnəs/ becoming /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktərɪnəs/). This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

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

The hottest word splits in English (US)

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

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.