HyphenationsPatterns

Hyphenation patterns are language-specific data files used by typesetting and word-processing systems to determine valid hyphenation points within words when wrapping text. They aim to improve readability and justify text by avoiding awkward breaks.

A pattern file contains many short strings of letters interspersed with digits. The digits indicate hyphenation priorities between the letters. When a word is processed, patterns are matched against it to produce a series of numbers between the letters; the final decision on where to break a word depends on these numbers. In TeX-like systems, a hyphenation point is allowed where the resulting number is odd. This mechanism allows complex language rules and morphologies to be encoded compactly.

Patterns are language-specific, reflecting syllable structure, common affixes, and orthographic conventions. Each language or script has its own collection, and there are widely used public sets maintained for TeX and other platforms. The most well-known group of patterns originated for TeX and has been distributed with many typesetting and publishing tools, often maintained by the community or distribution packages. Other projects create and share patterns for additional languages or variants.

Usage and impact: Hyphenation patterns enable more natural line breaks across a range of texts, contributing to improved readability and aesthetic text alignment in books, articles, and digital interfaces. They are used directly by typesetting engines and, in some environments, through external pattern libraries integrated into word processors and publishing workflows. Ongoing updates help accommodate new vocabulary, proper names, and evolving language conventions.

See also: Hyphenation, TeX, LaTeX, word-processor hyphenation features.