Hyphenation English dictionary

[andrew7777777]

Hello,
Could you plz help me with the hyphenation English dictionary. There must be a txt, html, or any other sort of downloadable dictionaries - I'd be very thankfull if you recommend me one.
Why do I need hyphonation when any text editor has got one? A friend of mine is writing a text-editing programme & I'm having a little argument with him about hyphenation rules. The best solution to the problem would be in my getting the hyphenation English dictionary and showing him any particular case. In case there isn't one (I mean the dictionary of course, not the case- there're loads of them ) I'd be very gratefull if a native speaker (preferably philology educated) would consult me on some difficult cases. So to start with what about "ed" & "ing" can we separate them from the root or not, i.e. "finish-ed" or "read-ing" - I mean "ed" here sounds like "t" & if I'm not mistaken it's not a syllable - there's no vowel!

[Tdol]

Hyphenation rules: http://www.xs4all.nl/~talo/talo/e_rules.html
Hyphenation software download: http://www.talo.nl/2005/index.html

[Fergusonj]

Is there a resource to guide on hyphenation of english words. Google has referred me to thei 'usingenglish.com' but I have been unsuccessful in locating anything.
thanks

[Tdol]

It's not an exact science, but here are some guidlines from a style book that seem reasonable:

Words already hyphenated should be broken at the hyphen.

Break words according to their derivation: aristo-cracy, melli-fluous.

Words of one syllable should not be broken.

If possible, at least three characters should be taken over to the next line.

Words should not be broken so that their identity is confused or their identifying sound distorted (e.g. rap-ist).

Personal names should not be broken.

Figures should not be broken or separated from their unit of measurement.

A word formed with a prefix or suffix should be broken at that point.