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Hyphenation ofunsuccessfulness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-suc-cess-ful-ness

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

/ʌn.səkˈsɛs.fʊl.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cess'). The stress pattern is determined by the root word 'success' which carries the primary stress, overriding the typical stress pattern of the -ness suffix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

suc/sək/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

cess/sɛs/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ful/fʊl/

Closed 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)
+
success(root)
+
-ful-ness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: success

Latin *succedere*, achievement

Suffix: -ful-ness

Old English *full* and *nes*, characterizes and denotes state/quality

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being successful.

Examples:

"His unsuccessfulness in the business venture led to financial ruin."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Similar suffix structure (-ness), but different root stress.

thoughtfulnessthought-ful-ness

Similar suffix structure (-ness), but different root stress.

carefulnesscare-ful-ness

Similar suffix structure (-ness), but different root stress.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable contains a vowel sound.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables are structured around an onset and a rime.

Maximize Onsets

Consonants are assigned to the following vowel whenever possible.

Morpheme Boundary

Syllable division often respects morpheme boundaries.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'un-' is always a separate syllable.

The 'cess' sequence is treated as a single unit due to its morphemic integrity.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unsuccessfulness' is divided into five syllables: un-suc-cess-ful-ness. The primary stress falls on the 'cess' syllable. It is a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'success', and the suffixes '-ful' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows vowel and onset-rime rules, respecting morpheme boundaries.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "unsuccessfulness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unsuccessfulness" is pronounced /ʌn.səkˈsɛs.fʊl.nəs/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to its length and multiple morphemes.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel sounds, is: un-suc-cess-ful-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: success (Latin succedere - to come forth, to happen favorably) - Achievement of desired outcome.
  • Suffix: -ful (Old English full) - Characterized by.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English nes) - State or quality of.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-suc-cess-ful-ness. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ness, but is overridden by the presence of the root 'success'.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌn.səkˈsɛs.fʊl.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "cess" can sometimes be ambiguous, but in this case, it clearly functions as a single morpheme and syllable. The 's' is part of the root.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Unsuccessfulness" 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 or quality of not being successful.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: failure, defeat, ineffectiveness
  • Antonyms: success, achievement, triumph
  • Examples: "His unsuccessfulness in the business venture led to financial ruin."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Happiness: hap-pi-ness. Similar structure with a suffix '-ness', stress on the second syllable.
  • Thoughtfulness: thought-ful-ness. Similar structure, stress on the second syllable.
  • Carefulness: care-ful-ness. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "unsuccessfulness" compared to "happiness", "thoughtfulness", and "carefulness" is due to the inherent stress pattern of the root word "success". The root carries the primary stress, overriding the typical -ness suffix stress.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  • Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are structured around an onset (consonant sounds before the vowel) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  • Maximize Onsets: Consonants are assigned to the following vowel whenever possible.
  • Morpheme Boundary: Syllable division often respects morpheme boundaries.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "un-" is always a separate syllable. The "cess" sequence is treated as a single unit due to its morphemic integrity.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might exhibit slightly different vowel qualities, but the syllable division remains consistent.

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

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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.