Hyphenation for “epidural”
Showing how to split the syllables of “epidural”.
What is the correct hyphenation for “epidural”? The purpose of hyphenation is to separate a word such as "epidural" because otherwise it would be too long and would no longer fit on one line. This separation not only saves space it improves the visually flow of the text. This word separation exists in most languages. In English, the word separation of “epidural” is based on the speech syllables. The separating syllable in linguistics is therefore the smallest group of sounds in the natural flow of speech.
As a separator, the classic hyphen is usually used: „epidural“ ⟶
„epidur-al“.
Hyphens are occasionally used to denote syllabification, as in syl-la-bi-fi-ca-tion. Various British and North American dictionaries use an interpunct, sometimes called a "middle dot" or "hyphenation point", for this purpose, as in syl·la·bi·fi·ca·tion. This allows the hyphen to be reserved only for places where a hard hyphen is intended (for example, self-con·scious, un·self-con·scious, long-stand·ing). Similarly, hyphens may be used to indicate how a word is being or should be spelled. For example, W-O-R-D spells "word".
Definitions of "epidural"
epidural >> /ˌɛpəˈd(j)ʊrəl/
Definition: [noun] An epidural anesthetic, used especially in childbirth to produce loss of sensation below the waist.
Example: Anaesthetists routinely provide epidurals for both vaginal and caesarean deliveries.
Definition: [adjective] On or around the dura mater, in particular (of an anesthetic) introduced into the space around the dura mater of the spinal cord.
Example: They can also be given in the epidural space in the spinal column where nerves exit.