Hyphenation ofstick-at-nothing
Syllable Division:
stick-at-no-thing
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/stɪk æt ˈnʌθɪŋ/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
1000
Primary stress falls on the first syllable, 'stick'.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Closed syllable, stressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix:
Root: stick
Old English *sticca* meaning 'stick, branch'
Suffix:
To stop at nothing; to be utterly ruthless or determined to achieve a goal, regardless of moral considerations.
Examples:
"He's a politician who will stick at nothing to get elected."
"The company stuck at nothing to increase its profits."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure and stress pattern.
Similar structure and stress pattern.
Similar structure and stress pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant (VC)
Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
Vowel-Consonant Cluster (VCC)
Consonant clusters following vowels often form separate syllables.
Stress Placement
Primary stress generally falls on the first syllable of compound words and phrasal verbs.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphenated structure requires careful consideration, but doesn't alter the core syllabification rules applied to each component.
Regional variations in vowel pronunciation might exist but do not affect the syllable division.
Summary:
The word 'stick-at-nothing' is syllabified as stick-at-no-thing, with primary stress on 'stick'. It's a phrasal verb composed of the root 'stick', the preposition 'at', and the compound 'nothing'. Syllable division follows standard US English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress placement.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "stick-at-nothing" (US English)
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "stick-at-nothing" is a phrasal verb, functioning idiomatically. Its pronunciation reflects standard US English, with potential regional variations in vowel quality.
2. Syllable Division:
Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: stick-at-no-thing.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- stick: Root. Old English sticca meaning "stick, branch". Verb, denoting adherence or persistence.
- at: Preposition. Old English æt. Indicates direction or position. Functions here as part of the phrasal verb.
- nothing: Compound. no + thing. Old English nāhting. Noun, representing the absence of something.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the first syllable: stick. The stress pattern is 1000.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/stɪk æt ˈnʌθɪŋ/
6. Edge Case Review:
The hyphenated nature of the phrase introduces a slight complexity. However, each component is syllabified according to standard rules. The 'th' in 'nothing' is a potential point of variation, but /θ/ is standard in US English.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Stick-at-nothing" functions as a phrasal verb. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its function within a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: To stop at nothing; to be utterly ruthless or determined to achieve a goal, regardless of moral considerations.
- Grammatical Category: Phrasal Verb (idiomatic)
- Synonyms: unscrupulous, ruthless, relentless, determined, unprincipled
- Antonyms: principled, ethical, scrupulous, conscientious
- Examples:
- "He's a politician who will stick at nothing to get elected."
- "The company stuck at nothing to increase its profits."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- something: som-e-thing. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable.
- everything: ev-er-y-thing. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable.
- anything: an-y-thing. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable.
The consistent stress on the first syllable in these words highlights a common pattern in English compound words and phrasal verbs. The syllable division rules are applied consistently across these examples, based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters.
Syllable Analysis Details:
- stick: /stɪk/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
- at: /æt/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
- no: /noʊ/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
- thing: /θɪŋ/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
- Vowel-Consonant Cluster (VCC): Consonant clusters following vowels often form separate syllables.
- Stress Placement: Primary stress generally falls on the first syllable of compound words and phrasal verbs.
Special Considerations:
- The hyphenated structure requires careful consideration, but doesn't alter the core syllabification rules applied to each component.
- Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /ɪ/ in "stick") might exist but do not affect the syllable division.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Minor variations in vowel quality are possible depending on regional accents. However, these variations do not impact the syllable division.
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What is hyphenation
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.