HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofnonexcessiveness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-ex-ces-siv-e-ness

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

/ˌnɑnɛkˈsɛsɪvnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('siv'), indicated by '1'. All other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, weak stress.

ex/ɛks/

Closed syllable, weak stress.

ces/sɛs/

Closed syllable, weak stress.

siv/sɪv/

Closed, stressed syllable.

e/i/

Open, unstressed syllable.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, weak stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
excess(root)
+
-ive/-ness(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation

Root: excess

Latin *excedere* - to go beyond, exceeding a limit

Suffix: -ive/-ness

Latin/Old English origin, adjective/noun forming

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of not being excessive; moderation.

Examples:

"Her nonexcessiveness in spending allowed her to save for retirement."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

excessivenessex-ces-siv-e-ness

Shares the root 'excess' and the suffix '-ness', similar syllable structure.

competitivenesscom-pet-i-tive-ness

Shares the suffix '-ness', similar stress pattern.

effectivenessef-fec-tive-ness

Shares the suffix '-ness', similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Principle

Syllables are divided between onset (initial consonants) and rime (vowel and following consonants).

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Consonant clusters are broken based on sonority, with more sonorous sounds tending to be syllable nuclei.

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (or a vowel-like sound).

Stress Assignment Rules

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable, influenced by morphological structure and phonological weight.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'non-' is often treated as a separate syllable.

The /ks/ cluster is common and doesn't typically require separation.

Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phonetic phenomenon.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonexcessiveness' is divided into six syllables: non-ex-ces-siv-e-ness. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'excess', and the suffixes '-ive' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('siv'). Syllable division follows the onset-rime principle and sonority sequencing.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonexcessiveness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonexcessiveness" is pronounced /ˌnɑnɛkˈsɛsɪvnəs/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to the prefix "non-", the complex cluster of consonants, and the suffix "-ness".

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: non-ex-ces-siv-e-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin) - Negation.
  • Root: excess (Latin excedere - to go beyond) - exceeding a limit.
  • Suffix: -ive (Latin origin) - forming adjectives from nouns or verbs.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - forming nouns denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-ex-ces-siv-e-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnɛkˈsɛsɪvnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The cluster /ksɛs/ is relatively common but can be simplified in some dialects. The vowel quality in the unstressed syllables can vary.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonexcessiveness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it's not inflected).

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of not being excessive; moderation.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: moderation, restraint, temperance, reasonableness
  • Antonyms: excess, extravagance, immoderation
  • Example Usage: "Her nonexcessiveness in spending allowed her to save for retirement."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Excessiveness: ex-ces-siv-e-ness - Similar structure, stress on "siv".
  • Competitiveness: com-pet-i-tive-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", stress on "pet".
  • Effectiveness: ef-fec-tive-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", stress on "fec".

The syllable division in all these words follows the same principles: vowel sounds generally form syllable nuclei, and consonant clusters are broken according to sonority. The primary difference lies in the initial consonant clusters and the root morpheme.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Division Rule Exceptions/Special Cases
non /nɑn/ Open syllable, weak stress Vowel after consonant
ex /ɛks/ Closed syllable, weak stress Consonant cluster break after onset
ces /sɛs/ Closed syllable, weak stress Vowel between consonants
siv /sɪv/ Closed, stressed syllable Vowel between consonants, stress assignment
e /i/ Open, unstressed syllable Schwa reduction possible
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, weak stress Vowel after consonant

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Onset-Rime Principle: Syllables are divided between onset (initial consonants) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
  2. Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonant clusters are broken based on sonority (loudness), with more sonorous sounds tending to be syllable nuclei.
  3. Vowel Nucleus Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (or a vowel-like sound).
  4. Stress Assignment Rules: Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable, influenced by morphological structure and phonological weight.

Special Considerations:

  • The prefix "non-" is often treated as a separate syllable.
  • The /ks/ cluster is common and doesn't typically require separation.
  • Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phonetic phenomenon.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "non" to /nən/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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.