Hyphenation is the breaking of a word at the end of a line, marked by a hyphen, which carries the rest of the word over to the next line. It follows precise rules based on syllables and prevents overly uneven spacing in justified text.
Where to see it
Hyphenation can be seen at the end of lines in books, newspapers or justified columns, where a word such as “typog-raphy” is split across two lines. Good practice recommends no more than two or three consecutive hyphens, not breaking proper names and never leaving a single letter at the end of a line.
Why this detail matters
Used well, hyphenation is a discreet but essential typesetting tool:
- It helps fill lines better and avoid overly wide spaces between words, especially in justified text and narrow columns;
- Poorly placed, it disrupts reading: a word broken in the wrong place or a series of hyphens forces the eye to piece the text back together;
- It depends on the language of the text, since each language has its own hyphenation rules: software and browsers rely on dictionaries to apply them.
Related term
Justification aligns the text with both edges of the column; hyphenation helps it keep the space between words even.