Syllable Division Rules

1. Separate prefixes and suffixes from root words.
• examples:  pre-view, work-ing, re-do, end-less, & out-ing
2. Are two (or more) consonants next to each other?
• Divide between the 1^st and 2^nd consonants.
• examples:  buf-fet, des-sert, ob-ject, ber-ry, & pil-grim
• Never split 2 consonants that make only 1 sound when pronounced together and aren't the same letter (i.e., 'ff').
• examples:  th, sh, ph, th, ch, & wh
3. Is the consonant surrounded by vowels?
• Does the vowel have a long sound?  (Like the 'i' in line)
• Divide before the consonant.
• examples:  ba-by, re-sult, i-vy, fro-zen, & Cu-pid
• Does the vowel have a short sound?  (Like the 'i' in mill)
• Divide after the consonant.
• examples:  met-al, riv-er, mod-el, val-ue, & rav-age
4. Does the word end with 'ckle'?
• Divide right before the 'le.'
• examples:  tack-le, freck-le, tick-le, & buck-le
5. Does the word end with 'le' (not 'ckle')?
• Is the letter before the 'le' a consonant?
• Divide 1 letter before the 'le.'
• examples:  ap-ple, rum-ble, fa-ble, & ta-ble
• Is the letter before the 'le' a vowel?
• Do nothing.
• examples:  ale, scale, sale, file, & tile

Examples

• little:   lit - tle
• petal:   pet - al
• turtle:   tur - tle
• ankle:   an - kle
• riddle:   rid - dle
• arrow:   ar - row
• nickle:   nick - le
• cotton:   cot - ton
• student:   stu - dent
• teacher:   teach - er
• children:   chil - dren
• pottery:   pot - ter - y
• learning:   learn - ing
• textbook:   text - book
• watching:   watch - ing
• screaming:   scream - ing
• misbehaving:   mis - be - hav - ing