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Hyphenation ofunblameworthiness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-blame-worth-i-ness

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

/ʌnˈblæmˌwɜrθɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('worth'). The first, second, fourth, and fifth syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

blame/bleɪm/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

worth/wɜrθ/

Closed syllable, stressed.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
blame(root)
+
-worthiness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: blame

Old English, assign responsibility

Suffix: -worthiness

Old English -worth (quality of being worthy) + -iness (state of being)

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of being deserving of no blame; innocence.

Examples:

"Her unblameworthiness was evident to all who knew the circumstances."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and a similar complex structure.

understandabilityun-der-stand-a-bil-i-ty

Shares the 'un-' prefix and '-ity' suffix.

worthinessworth-i-ness

Shares the '-iness' suffix and a similar root structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often split around vowel sounds.

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes typically form separate syllables.

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Syllables tend to follow a sonority hierarchy, with sounds becoming more sonorous towards the syllable nucleus (vowel).

Special Considerations

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

The pronunciation of 'worth' can vary slightly, potentially affecting the syllable division, but the presented division is the most common.

The length of the root 'blame' contributes to the complexity of the syllable structure.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unblameworthiness' is divided into five syllables: un-blame-worth-i-ness. It consists of the prefix 'un-', the root 'blame', and the suffix '-worthiness'. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('worth'). The syllable division follows standard vowel and consonant cluster rules, with prefixes and suffixes forming separate syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "unblameworthiness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unblameworthiness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English is approximately /ʌnˈblæmˌwɜrθɪnəs/. The stress falls on the third syllable ("worth").

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: un-blame-worth-i-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: blame (Old English) - Assign responsibility for a fault or wrong.
  • Suffix: -worth (Old English) - Quality of being worthy; value.
  • Suffix: -iness (Old English) - State or quality of being.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-blame-worth-i-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈblæmˌwɜrθɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple suffixes and the root "blame" creates a longer word, potentially leading to ambiguity in syllable division for some speakers. However, the vowel clusters and consonant blends generally dictate the divisions as presented.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of being deserving of no blame; innocence.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: innocence, blamelessness, guiltlessness, impeccability
  • Antonyms: guilt, culpability, blamefulness
  • Example Usage: "Her unblameworthiness was evident to all who knew the circumstances."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix structure (-ity), but different root. Stress on the third syllable.
  • Understandability: un-der-stand-a-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Shares the "un-" prefix and "-ity" suffix. Stress on the fourth syllable.
  • Worthiness: worth-i-ness (3 syllables) - Shares the "-iness" suffix. Stress on the first syllable.

The syllable division in "unblameworthiness" is more complex due to the length of the root and the combination of suffixes. The other words demonstrate how the suffixes consistently form separate syllables, but the root's length influences the overall syllable count.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split around vowel sounds.
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes typically form separate syllables.
  • Sonority Sequencing Principle: Syllables tend to follow a sonority hierarchy, with sounds becoming more sonorous towards the syllable nucleus (vowel).

11. Special Considerations:

The "worth" syllable is a potential point of variation. Some speakers might pronounce it as /wɜrθ/ and divide it as "worth-i-ness", while others might pronounce it as /wɜrθɪ/ and maintain the "worth-i" division. The presented division is the more common and phonologically justifiable one.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /ɜr/ sound in "worth") could slightly affect the perceived syllable boundaries, but the overall structure remains consistent.

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

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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.