Sometimes even a technically correct word break, which follows the syllabication of the word, ends up leading the poor reader astray.
This sounds like a nasty affliction: anal-
ysis
There's the to-and-fro-ing anti-pro-
ject
the mythical leg-
end
But there are others where the computer obviously has no clue where the syllables are in English:
trai-
psing
(sounds like some kind of Chinese dish served in a cafeteria)
indo-
ctrination
(possibly something like Sino-ctrination?)
loose-
ned
(God forbid that Loose Ned should contract Anal Ysis!)
In fact, some newspapers break off the past tense -ed even on one-syllable words, like hop-
ped
(It gives a very High Anglican feel to reading the newspaper!)
There is the very frequent re-
ally
and its cousin, which I just saw this week: rear-
rest
Save Loose Ned from Anal Ysis and from being rear rested! Don't let your computer do your word breaks for you.
For more on hyphenation, visit this post and this one.
P.S.
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The-
ReplyDeleterapist.
The classic, always memorable example of why your computer is not always right.
Brilliant example, Deb. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite. My title is Cognition The rapist. Describes how you feel when your brain has done you in. :)
DeleteHarking back to the days as a copy editor and writer (by candlelight, I seem to remember), there were good reasons for not hyphenatintg a word at the end of a line: not only did you avoid amusing or confusing readers but, most importantly, you didn't have to know the rules of hyphenation.
ReplyDeleteas good a reason as any, Charlie! :)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite was always mans-
ReplyDeletelaughter
Al R, a retired copy editor
love it!
DeleteHow about wee-
ReplyDeleteknight