SEPARATING WORDS AT THE END OF A LINE

This is not easy, so I always recommend my students never to divide a word at the end of a line. But in case you are wondering what the rules are, here you are:

1. Divide the word between syllables. This means, of course, that one-syllable words are never divided.

Incorrect:	Incorrect:	Correct:
sp- orts	su- pport	sup- port

2. The hyphen goes at the end of the first line.

Incorrect:	Correct:
sup -port	sup- port

3. Prefixes and suffixes make natural divisions.

Incorrect:	Correct:
in- ternational	inter- national

                                                                                     (The prefix is inter.)

4. There should be at least two letters plus the hyphen on the first line and three letters on the second.

Incorrect:	Incorrect:	Correct:
e- lect	supposed- ly	sup- posedly

5. Do not divide proper nouns or proper adjectives.

Incorrect:	Correct:
Wash- ington	Washington

6. Divide hyphenated word using the hyphen already in the word.

Incorrect:	Correct:
moth- er-in-law	mother- in-law

7. Do not divide a word at the end of a line if the parts of the word will be on two separate pages. This is hard for the reader to follow.