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Hyphenation ofout-of-the-common

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

out-of-the-com-mon

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

/aʊt ɒv ðə ˈkɑmən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Primary stress falls on the final syllable, 'mon'. The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

out/aʊt/

Open syllable, initial syllable, stressed.

of/ɒv/

Open syllable, linking preposition, unstressed.

the/ðə/

Open syllable, definite article, unstressed.

com/kɑm/

Open syllable, prefix, unstressed.

mon/mən/

Open syllable, root, primary stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

out-(prefix)
+
mon(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: out-

Old English origin, indicates being outside or beyond.

Root: mon

Greek origin (*monos*), meaning single/unique, forming the core of 'common'.

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not ordinary; unusual; exceptional.

Examples:

"He had an out-of-the-common talent for music."

"Her ideas were truly out-of-the-common."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

uncommonun-com-mon

Similar prefix-root-suffix structure and stress pattern.

outspokenout-spo-ken

Shares the 'out-' prefix and similar syllable structure.

overcomeo-ver-come

Similar prefix-root structure and stress on the final syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Syllables are generally divided around vowel sounds.

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word and the inclusion of function words ('of', 'the') require careful consideration.

The linking of 'of' and 'the' is a common feature of English pronunciation but doesn't necessarily dictate a single syllable.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'out-of-the-common' is a compound adjective divided into five syllables: out-of-the-com-mon. The primary stress falls on the final syllable, 'mon'. It consists of the prefix 'out-', preposition 'of', article 'the', prefix 'com-', and root 'mon'. Syllabification follows vowel-based division rules and considers the morphemic structure.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "out-of-the-common" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "out-of-the-common" is a compound adjective. Its pronunciation involves a sequence of relatively straightforward syllables, though the linking of "of" and "the" can present a slight challenge in precise syllabification.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

out-of-the-com-mon

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • out-: Prefix (Old English) - Function: Indicates being outside or beyond a certain state or condition.
  • of: Preposition (Old English) - Function: Expresses the relationship between parts. In this context, it functions as a linking element within the compound.
  • the: Definite article (Old English) - Function: Specifies a particular item or entity. Here, it's part of a fixed expression.
  • com-: Prefix (Latin) - Function: Intensifier or combining element.
  • mon: Root (Greek monos meaning "single," "unique") - Function: Forms the core meaning of "common" relating to shared characteristics.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the final syllable, "mon".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/aʊt ɒv ðə ˈkɑmən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The linking of "of" and "the" can sometimes be elided in rapid speech, but for a formal syllabic analysis, they are treated as separate syllables. The vowel reduction in "of" to /əv/ is common.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not ordinary; unusual; exceptional.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: unusual, extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional, atypical
  • Antonyms: common, ordinary, typical, usual
  • Examples: "He had an out-of-the-common talent for music." "Her ideas were truly out-of-the-common."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • uncommon: un-com-mon (similar structure, stress on the final syllable)
  • outspoken: out-spo-ken (similar prefix "out-", stress on the final syllable)
  • overcome: o-ver-come (similar structure with a prefix and root, stress on the final syllable)

The syllable division in these words follows similar patterns: prefix + root/linking element + suffix/root. The presence of the preposition "of" and article "the" in "out-of-the-common" adds complexity, but the core principle of dividing around vowel sounds remains consistent.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Syllables are generally divided around vowel sounds.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but in this case, the clusters are relatively simple and remain within syllables.
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word and the inclusion of function words ("of," "the") require careful consideration. The linking of "of" and "the" is a common feature of English pronunciation but doesn't necessarily dictate a single syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /ɑ/ in "common") might exist, but they don't fundamentally alter the syllabification.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.