##  [hyphens: word division](/writing-tips-plus/hyphens-word-division)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

If at all possible, avoid dividing words at the end of a line. However, when space is at a premium, word division at line breaks may be necessary. Here is a list of the essential points to remember about word division.

## DOs

- Divide words between syllables (*bas-ket*, *pic-ture*). But not all syllable breaks are acceptable as end-of-line breaks, so be sure to follow the other guidelines below.
- Divide between double consonants (*equip-ping*, not *equipp-ing* or *equi-pping*).
- Divide a word between the prefix and the following letter (*re-location*), or between the root and the suffix (*convert-ible*).
- Divide compounds between elements (*under-mine*) or at the hyphen (court-martial, **not** *court-mar-tial*).
- Divide words ending in *ing* at that syllable (*turn-ing*), except in the case of a doubled consonant before *ing*, when the division should be made between the doubled consonants (*bid-ding*, *control-ling*).
- When the verb has an *l* preceded by a consonant, carry over the letter preceding the *l (han-dling, dwin-dling, tin-kling)*.

## DON’Ts

- Do not divide words of one syllable or words in which the second “syllable” contains only a silent *e* (*aimed*, *helped*, *vexed*, etc.).
- Do not divide a word if the division will create a single-letter syllable (*again*, not *a-gain*).
- Do not carry two-letter syllables over to the next line (*fully*, not *ful*-*ly*).
- Do not carry over final syllables in which a liquid *l* is the only pronounced vowel sound (*pos-sible*, not *possi-ble*; *prin-ciples*, not *princi-ples*).
- Do not create breaks that may cause the reader to confuse one word with another (*re-appear*, not *reap-pear*). Similarly, such words as *women* and *often* should be left unbroken.
- Do not divide words that would result in awkward divisions such as *every, only, eighteen and people*.
- Do not divide abbreviations, contractions or numbers (*UNDP, won’t, 235 006 114.37*). Abbreviations or symbols used with numerals should not be separated from the numerals (*16 kg, 0 °C, s. 4, 11:55 a.m.*).
- Do not divide the last word on a page.

When in doubt, consult a reliable English language dictionary to see how to divide a word properly.

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil Writing Tips Plus

© Sa Majesté le Roi du chef du Canada, représenté par le ou la ministre des Services publics et de l’Approvisionnement
Un outil créé et mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)