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Hyphenation ofnonreligiousness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-re-li-gious-ness

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

/nɑn.rɪˈlɪ.dʒəs.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('gious'). The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

re/rɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

li/lɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

gious/dʒəs/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
religious(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation

Root: religious

Latin origin, relating to religion

Suffix: -ness

Old English origin, forms a noun denoting a state or quality

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being religious; lack of religious belief.

Examples:

"His nonreligiousness was a source of conflict with his family."

"The rise of nonreligiousness in society is a notable trend."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and similar syllabic structure.

unhappinessun-hap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a prefix, demonstrating similar syllabification patterns.

religiousre-li-gious

Contains the root of the word, allowing comparison of the root's syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes are often separated into their own syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The 'non-' prefix consistently forms its own syllable.

The '-ious' sequence is generally treated as a single syllable despite the vowel glide.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonreligiousness' is divided into five syllables: non-re-li-gious-ness. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'religious', and the suffix '-ness'. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('gious'). Syllabification follows vowel and prefix/suffix rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonreligiousness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonreligiousness" is pronounced as /nɑn.rɪˈlɪ.dʒəs.nəs/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to the prefix "non-", the complex root "religious", and the suffix "-ness".

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: non-re-li-gious-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin) - Negation.
  • Root: religious (Latin religiōsus, from religio - 'careful consideration, worship') - Relating to or believing in a religion.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /nɑn.rɪˈlɪ.dʒəs.nəs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/nɑn.rɪˈlɪ.dʒəs.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-ious" can sometimes be a point of syllabification debate, but in this case, it's generally treated as a single syllable due to the vowel glide and common pronunciation. The prefix "non-" is often treated as a separate syllable, especially when followed by a vowel.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonreligiousness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not being religious; lack of religious belief.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: irreligiosity, secularism, nonbelief
  • Antonyms: religiousness, piety, faith
  • Examples: "His nonreligiousness was a source of conflict with his family." "The rise of nonreligiousness in society is a notable trend."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", stress on the second syllable.
  • unhappiness: un-hap-pi-ness - Similar prefix "un-", suffix "-ness", stress on the second syllable.
  • religious: re-li-gious - The root itself, stress on the third syllable.

The syllable division in "nonreligiousness" differs due to the added prefix "non-", which creates an additional syllable. The stress pattern remains consistent with the root "religious".

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but not necessarily. In this case, "re" is a valid syllable onset.
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes are often separated into their own syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The "non-" prefix is a relatively stable unit and almost always forms its own syllable. The "-ious" sequence is generally treated as a single syllable, even though it contains a vowel glide.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the first syllable (/nɑn/ to /nən/), but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division. Regional accents might affect the vowel quality, but the core syllabic structure remains consistent.

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

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Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.