HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofwrong-principled

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

wrong-prin-ci-pled

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

/ˈrɔŋˌprɪnsəpld/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100

Primary stress falls on the second syllable of 'principle' (prin). The first syllable 'wrong' is unstressed, and 'ci' and 'pled' are also unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

wrong/rɔŋ/

Closed syllable, monophthong.

prin/prɪn/

Open syllable, onset cluster.

ci/sɪ/

Closed syllable, short vowel.

pled/pld/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

wrong(prefix)
+
principle(root)
+
-ed(suffix)

Prefix: wrong

Old English origin, negative modifier.

Root: principle

Latin origin, core meaning of a fundamental truth.

Suffix: -ed

Old English origin, adjectival suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Characterized by a lack of moral principles; unethical or immoral.

Examples:

"The politician's wrong-principled actions led to his downfall."

"A wrong-principled approach to business can ruin a company's reputation."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

unprincipledun-prin-cip-led

Similar morphemic structure and stress pattern.

well-principledwell-prin-cip-led

Similar morphemic structure and stress pattern.

misguidedmis-guid-ed

Similar prefix-root-suffix structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

VCC Syllable Structure

Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable when permissible by English phonotactics.

Onset Cluster Rule

Permissible consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable are maintained.

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated structure initially suggests separate stress, but the compound adjective nature dictates a unified stress pattern.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may occur.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'wrong-principled' is a compound adjective divided into four syllables: wrong-prin-ci-pled. Stress falls on the second syllable of 'principle'. It's formed from the prefix 'wrong-', the root 'principle', and the suffix '-ed'. Syllabification follows standard English rules regarding vowel-consonant and consonant cluster divisions.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "wrong-principled" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "wrong-principled" is a compound adjective formed by combining "wrong" and "principled." Its pronunciation reflects this composition, with a noticeable pause or slight emphasis between the two parts.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows:

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: wrong- (Old English wrang - meaning "twisted, crooked, amiss"). Functions as a negative prefix, modifying the meaning of the root.
  • Root: principle (Latin principium - meaning "beginning, origin"). The core meaning relates to a fundamental truth or proposition.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English -ed). Functions as an adjectival suffix, forming the past participle and, in this case, contributing to the adjectival form.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable of "principle" within the compound word.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈrɔŋˌprɪnsəpld/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated nature of the word initially suggests a potential for separate stress patterns on each component. However, as a compound adjective, it functions as a single unit, and the stress falls within the second component.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Wrong-principled" functions exclusively as an adjective. There is no shift in syllabification or stress if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech (which it doesn't).

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Characterized by a lack of moral principles; unethical or immoral.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: immoral, unethical, unprincipled, corrupt, depraved
  • Antonyms: principled, ethical, moral, virtuous
  • Examples: "The politician's wrong-principled actions led to his downfall." "A wrong-principled approach to business can ruin a company's reputation."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "unprincipled": un-prin-cip-led. Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable of "principle".
  • "well-principled": well-prin-cip-led. Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable of "principle".
  • "misguided": mis-guid-ed. Similar structure with a prefix and root, stress on the second syllable.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
wrong /rɔŋ/ Closed syllable, monophthong. VCC syllable structure. Consonant cluster simplification is not applicable here. The /ɔ/ vowel can vary regionally.
prin /prɪn/ Open syllable, onset cluster. Onset cluster rule (plosive + fricative).
ci /sɪ/ Closed syllable, short vowel. Vowel followed by consonant.
pled /pld/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster. Coda cluster rule (plosive + liquid + consonant).

Exceptions/Special Cases for the Word as a Whole:

The hyphenated structure is a key consideration. While it could suggest separate stress, the compound adjective nature dictates a unified stress pattern.

Differences in Syllable Division Rules for Multiple Parts of Speech:

As "wrong-principled" is exclusively an adjective, this is not applicable.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɑ/ instead of /ɔ/ in "wrong") might occur, but these do not significantly alter the syllable division.

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

The hottest word splits in English (US)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

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.