(c) d, s, t, and z when followed by u giving the sound
     of ch, sh, zh, or j, cen-sure, sei-zure, na-ture,
     ver-dure.

Do not begin a syllable with

     (a) x with the sound of ks or gs, anx-ious, ex-act-ly.

     (b) r preceded by a or e; par-ent, av-er-age, but by
     exception, pa-rent-al.

     (c) Single l, n, or v, followed by i with the sound of
     y consonant; fol-io (fol-yo), gen-ius (gen-yus),
     sav-ior (sav-yor).

Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated, yel-low-ish, eat-able, pre-lude.  This last word is sometimes pronounced prel-ude and this pronunciation has some dictionary support, but it is objectionable.

A consonant or digraph between two sounded vowels usually joins the following vowel, rea-son, no-ti-fy, mo-ther.

When two or three consonants capable of beginning a syllable come between two sounded vowels they may all be joined to the following vowel.

     (a) When the preceding vowel is long and accented; en-a-bling,
     He-brew, i-dler.

     (b) When the following vowel is an accented syllable; o-blige,
     re-dress.

When two or three consonants capable of beginning a syllable come between two sounded vowels one may be joined to the preceding vowel.

     (a) When the vowel is short; tab-let, res-cue, mus-ket.

     (b) When the consonants are st, str, or sp, if either the
     preceding or following vowel is accented; mis-tress, aus-tere,
     oys-ter, sus-pect.

When a consonant is doubled (not forming a digraph) the two are generally separated; beg-gar, bril-liant, cun-ning.

The old-fashioned method of oral spelling by syllables m-a-s-mas-t-e-r-ter-master will be found extremely useful in teaching correct syllabication.  It is recommended that constant use be made of it in spelling drill.

ACCENT

When a word consists of two syllables one of them receives more stress of voice than the other.  This stress of voice is called accent.  If the word consists of three or more syllables there is usually another syllable stressed in somewhat less degree.  This is called a secondary accent.  In some cases there may even be a third accent if the word is very long; In’-come, val-e-tu’-di-na’-ri-an.  This fact arises from the tendency natural to all human speech to take more or less musical forms.