Editing Dactylic hexameter (section)

==== Latin ====

In Latin a syllable is long (by nature) if it contains a long vowel or a dipthong{{r|allen1965|p=89}}{{r|raven1965|p=23}} and long (by position) if it contains a short vowel followed by two consonants, even if these are in different words{{r|raven1965|p=24}}. For example, all syllables in {{lang|la|Ae-nē-ās}} and {{lang|la|au-rō}} are long by nature, whereas {{lang|la|et}}, {{lang|la|ter}}, {{lang|la|tot}}, and {{lang|la|vol}} in {{lang|la|<u>et</u> <u>ter</u>rīs}}, {{lang|la|<u>tot</u> <u>vol</u>-ve-re}} are long by position.

However, when a [[Liquid consonant|liquid]] -- l or r -- follows a [[plosive]], a syllable containing a short vowel may remain short by position{{r|raven1965|p=25}}. For example, {{lang|la|pa-trem}} could be scanned either as having a short first syllable {{lang|la|pa-trem}} or as having a long first syllable {{lang|la|pat-rem}}{{r|allen1965|p=89}}.

In scansion the letter ''h'' is ignored{{r|raven1965|p=24}}, and ''qu'' counts as a single consonant{{r|raven1965|p=24}}. So, for example in the phrase {{lang|la|et horret}} the syllable ''et'' remains short, and in the word {{lang|la|aqua}} the first syllable remains short too.

The semiconsonantal ''i'' and ''u'' are scanned as consonants{{r|raven1965|p=24}}. For example, in {{lang|la|Iuppiter}} and {{lang|la|iēcit}}, ''i'' is considered a consonant, pronounced like the English ''y''. Thus {{lang|la|Iup-pi-ter}} has three syllables and {{lang|la|iē-cit}} has two. But, in {{lang|la|I-ū-lius}} the first ''I'' is a vowel and forms a separate syllable{{r|allen1965|p=38}}. Additionally, an ''i'' between two or more vowels stands almost without exception for a double consonant{{r|allen1965|p=39}}; so, for example {{lang|la|a-io}}, standing for {{lang|la|a-iio}} has two syllables{{r|allen1965|p=39}}.

In some editions of Latin texts the consonant ''v'' is written as ''u'', in which case ''u'' is also often consonantal. This can sometimes cause ambiguity; e.g., in the word {{lang|la|uoluit}} (= {{lang|la|vol-vit}}) "he rolls" the second ''u'' is a consonant, but in {{lang|la|uoluit}} (= {{lang|la|vo-lu-it}}) "he wanted" the second ''u'' is a vowel.