The division of similar words should be accommodated to suit altered pronunciation, as in
- amend-able
- represen-tation
- syste-matic
- emen-dation
- represent-ative
- system-atize
DIVISIONS ON VOWELS
Divisions are properly made on the vowel when the emphasis is on the syllable that contains this vowel, and not on its following consonant.
- busi-ness
- colo-nel
- dou-ble
- ma-tron
- me-moir
- mo-bile
- noi-sy
- pa-tron
- pro-duct
- pro-gress
- trou-ble
- wo-man
Pro-gress is the proper division for the verb, and prog-ress is permissible but awkward for the noun. Some of these words violate the rule of division on the emphasized syllable, but they are tolerated when they prevent too short final syllables, as in trou-ble.
DIVISION ON PREFIXES
The word compounded with a prefix should be divided preferably on the prefix, as in dis-inherit, dis-avow, dis-agree, un-able. The terminations -tion, -able, -ive, are most frequent in one syllable, but -sion may be more flexible. In occa-sion, apprehen-sion, ces-sion, and declen-sion the s always appears in the final syllable. As a rule,