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Hyphenation ofthorough-lighted

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

thō-rō-ly-light-ed

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

/ˈθʌr.oʊ.laɪ.tɪd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1-0-1-0-0

Primary stress on the first syllable of 'thorough' and the second syllable of 'lighted'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

thō/θoʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

/roʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

ly/li/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

light/laɪt/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.

ed/ɪd/

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)

thorough(prefix)
+
light(root)
+
ed(suffix)

Prefix: thorough

Old English origin, intensifying prefix.

Root: light

Old English origin, base for illumination.

Suffix: ed

Old English origin, past tense marker.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Illuminated completely or extensively; fully lit.

Examples:

"The thorough-lighted hallway made it easy to see."

"The thorough-lighted stage was ready for the performance."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Wonderfulwon-der-ful

Similar CVC syllable structure.

Beautifulbeau-ti-ful

Similar CVC syllable structure.

Colorfulcol-or-ful

Similar CVC syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable

A syllable ending in a vowel sound is considered open.

Closed Syllable

A syllable ending in a consonant sound is considered closed.

Special Considerations

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

The 'ough' digraph in 'thorough' can have multiple pronunciations, but /oʊ/ is standard in US English.

The '-ed' suffix pronunciation varies (/t/, /d/, or /ɪd/) based on the preceding sound.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'thorough-lighted' is divided into five syllables: thō-rō-ly-light-ed. It's a compound word with a prefix 'thorough', root 'light', and suffix '-ed'. Primary stress falls on the first syllable of 'thorough' and the second syllable of 'lighted'. The syllabification follows standard English rules of open and closed syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

Thorough-lighted Syllable Analysis

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "thorough-lighted" is pronounced /θʌr.oʊ.laɪ.tɪd/ (General American English). It's a compound word formed by combining "thorough" and "lighted." The pronunciation of "thorough" can vary slightly, but the /θʌr/ onset is consistent.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: thō-rō-ly-light-ed.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: thorough- (Old English þurh, meaning "through, completely"). Functions as an intensifying prefix.
  • Root: light (Old English lēoht, meaning "light, brightness"). Functions as the base for the action of illuminating.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English -ed, past tense marker). Indicates past tense and completed action.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable of "thorough" and the second syllable of "lighted". Thus, the stress pattern is 1-0-1-0-0.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈθʌr.oʊ.laɪ.tɪd/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • thō: /θoʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Potential exception: The 'ough' digraph can have multiple pronunciations, but in this case, it's pronounced as /oʊ/.
  • rō: /roʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
  • ly: /li/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant, and the consonant is part of the next syllable.
  • light: /laɪt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
  • ed: /ɪd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "ough" in "thorough" is a common source of variation. However, the pronunciation /oʊ/ is standard in US English. The "-ed" suffix can be pronounced /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/ depending on the preceding sound. Here, it's /ɪd/ due to the /t/ sound in "light."

8. Grammatical Role:

"Thorough-lighted" functions primarily as a past participle adjective. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Illuminated completely or extensively; fully lit.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective (past participle)
  • Synonyms: well-lit, brightly lit, illuminated
  • Antonyms: dark, unlit, shadowy
  • Examples: "The thorough-lighted hallway made it easy to see." "The thorough-lighted stage was ready for the performance."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in the pronunciation of "thorough" might affect the first syllable's vowel sound, but the syllable division would remain the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Wonderful: won-der-ful. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC). Stress pattern differs (1-0-0).
  • Beautiful: beau-ti-ful. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC). Stress pattern differs (1-0-0).
  • Colorful: col-or-ful. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC). Stress pattern differs (1-0-0).

The difference in stress patterns is due to the inherent stress patterns of the root words and the compounding process. "Thorough-lighted" places primary stress on the first syllable of "thorough" due to its inherent prominence, and on the second syllable of "lighted" as it is the root of the second word.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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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.