Syllable Splitting Rules Chart
How to split a long word. Look for these patterns, split the word into syllables, read each part, then put them back together.
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How to do it
- Read each rule and its example words.
- Look at where each example is split.
- Use the chart to split new long words.
Teaching tip
Keep the chart nearby while your student works on the other pages. This sheet is aligned with Common Core RF.4.3a.
About this chart
The main ways to split a long word: compound words, prefixes and suffixes, VC/CV, V/CV, VC/V, three consonants together, consonant-le and keeping vowel teams and digraphs together, each with two example words.
What kids practice
A multisyllable word is a word with more than one syllable, like tornado or information. By fourth grade, students meet many long words they have never seen in print. Splitting a word into syllables lets a reader sound out one small part at a time, then put the parts back together to read the whole word.
Watch for
- Reading the first part and guessing the rest. Slow down and read every syllable.
- Splitting with a long vowel when the word needs a short one, like ca-bin for cabin. Try the other split if it doesn't sound right.
- Breaking up a prefix or suffix, like dis-app-ear. Keep word parts together.
- Leaving out a middle syllable, like reading "intresting" for interesting.
It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full multisyllable words guide for 4th grade.
More sheets in this set
2. Split the Long WordLong words like fantastic and caterpillar to split into syllables and count. Fewer, Standard or More give 9, 12 or 15 words. Includes an answer key.
3. Pick the Syllable RuleWords already split into syllables, like nap-kin and ta-ble, to match with VC/CV, V/CV, VC/V or C-le (consonant-le). Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 12 words. Includes an answer key.
4. Peel Off the PartsWords like unbreakable and disconnected to split into prefix, base word and suffix. Some words have only a prefix or only a suffix. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 words. Includes an answer key.
5. Syllable ScrambleThe syllables of long words like envelope and remember, mixed up to put back in order. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 words. Includes an answer key.
6. Count and Sort SyllablesA word box of two-, three- and four-syllable words to sort into columns. Fewer, Standard or More give 9, 12 or 15 words. Includes an answer key.
7. Long Words in SentencesSentences with a missing long word, like "Hot lava poured out of the ___," with three long words to choose from. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 sentences. Includes an answer key.
8. Multisyllable Fluency LinesLines of long words to read out loud, with a box to check for each line and space to record three timed readings. Fewer gives 6 lines of 3 words with the syllables marked; Standard or More give 8 or 10 lines of 4 words.