HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofelectrocorticogram

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

el-ec-tro-cor-ti-co-gram

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

/ɪˌlɛktrəˌkɔrtɪkoʊˈɡræm/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010011

Primary stress falls on the fourth-to-last syllable (/kɔrtɪkoʊ/).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

el/ɛl/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

ec/ɪk/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by a vowel.

tro/trə/

Open syllable, consonant cluster followed by a schwa.

cor/kɔr/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

ti/tɪ/

Closed syllable, consonant followed by a vowel.

co/koʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

gram/ɡræm/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

electro-(prefix)
+
cortico-(root)
+
-gram(suffix)

Prefix: electro-

Greek origin (*elektron*), combining form indicating electricity.

Root: cortico-

Latin origin (*cortex*), relating to the cerebral cortex.

Suffix: -gram

Greek origin (*gramma*), denotes a record or tracing.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A record of electrical activity from the cerebral cortex.

Examples:

"The neurosurgeon analyzed the electrocorticogram to identify the source of the seizures."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Photographpho-to-graph

Similar structure with consonant clusters and vowel-consonant syllables.

Microphonemi-cro-phone

Similar structure with prefixes and suffixes.

Thermogramther-mo-gram

Similar morphemic structure (root + suffix).

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-C

When a vowel is followed by a consonant, the syllable break typically occurs after the vowel.

C-V

When a consonant is followed by a vowel, the syllable break typically occurs before the vowel.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless a vowel intervenes.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and the presence of multiple consonant clusters require careful application of the syllable division rules.

Regional variations might involve slight vowel pronunciation differences, but these generally do not affect syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Electrocorticogram is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth-to-last syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel-consonant and consonant-vowel separation, considering consonant clusters and the schwa sound. The word is morphologically complex, composed of a Greek-derived prefix, a Latin-derived root, and a Greek-derived suffix.

Detailed Analysis:

Electrocorticogram Syllable Analysis

1. IPA Transcription: /ɪˌlɛktrəˌkɔrtɪkoʊˈɡræm/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

  • Prefix: electro- (Greek elektron meaning amber, referring to electricity) - Function: Combining form indicating electricity.
  • Root: cortico- (Latin cortex meaning bark, outer layer) - Function: Relating to the cerebral cortex.
  • Suffix: -gram (Greek gramma meaning something written, record) - Function: Denotes a record or tracing.

3. Stressed Syllables: The primary stress falls on the fourth-to-last syllable: /ˌɛlɪk.trəˈkɔrtɪ.koʊˈɡræm/.

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • el-: /ɛl/ - Open syllable. Vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-C.
  • ec-: /ɪk/ - Closed syllable. Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. Rule: C-V.
  • tro-: /trə/ - Open syllable. Consonant cluster followed by a schwa. Rule: C-V.
  • cor-: /kɔr/ - Closed syllable. Vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: V-C.
  • ti-: /tɪ/ - Closed syllable. Consonant followed by a vowel. Rule: C-V.
  • co-: /koʊ/ - Open syllable. Vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: V-C.
  • gram: /ɡræm/ - Closed syllable. Vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: V-C.

5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:

  • Vowel-C: When a vowel is followed by a consonant, the syllable break typically occurs after the vowel.
  • C-V: When a consonant is followed by a vowel, the syllable break typically occurs before the vowel.
  • Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless a vowel intervenes.
  • Schwa: The schwa sound /ə/ often forms its own syllable, particularly in unstressed positions.

6. Potential Exceptions/Special Cases (per syllable):

  • el-: The 'e' is sometimes reduced to a schwa in rapid speech.
  • ec-: The 'ec' cluster is relatively common and doesn't present a division issue.
  • tro-: The schwa sound is common in unstressed syllables.
  • cor-: No specific exceptions.
  • ti-: No specific exceptions.
  • co-: No specific exceptions.
  • gram: No specific exceptions.

7. Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The length of the word and the presence of multiple consonant clusters require careful application of the syllable division rules. The stress pattern is crucial for determining the prominence of certain syllables.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification:

"Electrocorticogram" primarily functions as a noun. Its syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical role, as it doesn't undergo inflectional changes that would alter its syllable structure.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • A record of electrical activity from the cerebral cortex.
    • A diagnostic test used to map brain function.
  • Translation: (N/A - English word)
  • Synonyms: cortical map, brain map
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples:
    • "The neurosurgeon analyzed the electrocorticogram to identify the source of the seizures."
    • "An electrocorticogram was performed prior to the epilepsy surgery."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might involve a slightly different pronunciation of the vowel sounds, but these variations generally do not affect the syllable division. For example, some speakers might pronounce the 'o' in 'cortex' as /ɔ/ instead of /ɔr/.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Photograph: pho-to-graph. Similar structure with consonant clusters and vowel-consonant syllables. Stress pattern differs.
  • Microphone: mi-cro-phone. Similar structure with prefixes and suffixes. Stress pattern differs.
  • Thermogram: ther-mo-gram. Similar morphemic structure (root + suffix). Syllable division is consistent.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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 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.