RULE #1

A one-syllable word is never divided​

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EXAMPLES: ​stop feet bell bee

RULE #2

A compound word is divided between the two words that make the compound word.

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​EXAMPLES:

rain-bow tooth-brush

wheel-chair​ foot-ball

RULE #3

When two or more consonants come between two vowels in a word, it is usually divided between the first two consonants.

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EXAMPLES:

sis-ter hung-ry

but-ter​ bot-tle

RULE #4

Divide after the consonant when the nearby vowel has a short sound.

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EXAMPLES:

pla-net ha-bit

dra-gon sock-et​

RULE #5

When a single consonant comes between two vowels in a word, it is usually divided before the consonant if the vowel is long.

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EXAMPLES:

ba-sin fe-ver

la-bel ma-jor

RULE #6

A word that has a prefix and suffix is divided between the root word and the prefix or suffix.

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EXAMPLES:

re-wind un-tie

teach-er be-fore