Avstavning

Avstavning (hyphenation) is the typographic practice of dividing a word at the end of a line to improve spacing and readability. By allowing a word to continue on the next line, text justification becomes more even, reducing ragged edges and awkward gaps.

Hyphenation relies on language-specific rules. In digital typesetting, it is typically computed by an algorithm or a dictionary of permissible break points. Many systems use hyphenation patterns or dictionaries for each language; TeX and modern word processors include Swedish hyphenation resources. The result is a list of acceptable break points within words, usually at syllable boundaries or morphologically natural divisions.

Guidelines and constraints: Do not hyphenate symbols, acronyms, numbers, or dates; avoid breaking proper nouns or abbreviations; do not leave a single-letter fragment; prefer breaks that align with familiar syllables or morphemes; for long compounds common in Swedish, hyphenation may respect word stems and suffixes, but editors may override if ambiguous.

Practical use: Hyphenation can be controlled in print and digital media; a soft hyphen character (U+00AD) marks potential break points without forcing one, allowing dynamic text flow. In desktop publishing, enabling language-specific hyphenation improves justification; in typesetting systems like TeX, LaTeX, or InDesign, hyphenation is a standard feature.