Which Sentence Contains a Split Infinitive?

A split infinitive is when an infinitive is split by another word, usually an adverb. For example, the sentence "To boldly go where no man has gone before." is a split infinitive because the adverb "boldly" is split from the infinitive "to go." Some people argue that you should never split an infinitive because it is incorrect grammar. However, there are times when splitting an infinitive can actually make a sentence sound better. It is up to the writer to decide whether or not to split an infinitive.

A split infinitive is a grammatical construction in which an adverb or other word intervenes between the to and the verbal stem of an infinitive, as in the sentence “He wanted desperately to try again.” The traditional prescriptive view is that such split infinitives are always incorrect. In recent years, however, many usage guides have offered more tolerant perspectives, noting that the objection to split infinitives is relatively recent and that in many cases a split infinitive can actually make a sentence more readable or effective.

The use of split infinitives dates back to the Old English period, when infinitives were not always delineated by the to particle. It was not until the 18th century that to became a standard part of infinitives, and it was not until the 19th century that the objection to splitting infinitives emerged. The first major critic of split infinitives was Josiah Tucker, an English bishop and political economist, who wrote in 1758 that “every tolerable Writer avoids, as much as possible, a divisions of the Infinitive Mood.” Tucker’s objection was based on a principle of euphony, or the aesthetic quality of sound, which was a common concern of 18th-century grammarians. While some 19th-century grammarians continued to espouse this view, others began to challenge it.

In 1814, Lindley Murray, widely considered the father of English grammar, published a grammar guide in which he specifically denounced the splitting of infinitives. Murray’s guide was widely influential, and for close to a century, the proscription against split infinitives was widely accepted. In 1909, however, Walter Skeat, a professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Cambridge, published an article in which he argued that the objection to split infinitives was based on a false analogy with Latin. Skeat noted that in Latin, the infinitive is a single word and therefore splitting it would create ambiguity. In English, however, the infinitive is two words (to + verb), and therefore there is no risk of ambiguity.

Skeat’s article was widely read and helped to challenge the prescriptive view of split infinitives. In the latter part of the 20th century, a number of usage guides began to take a more tolerant view of split inf

A split infinitive is usually caused by placing an adverb or particle between the to and the verb in a infinitive phrase. For example, the sentence "I wanted to quickly leave the room" contains a split infinitive because the adverb quickly is placed between the to and the verb leave. While some grammarians argue that a split infinitive is always incorrect, others claim that there are cases where a split infinitive can be acceptable.

If you're trying to avoid split infinitives in your writing, there are a few things you can do. First, try to place the adverb as close to the verb it's modifying as possible. For example, in the sentence "I wanted to leave the room quickly," the adverb quickly is placed right next to the verb leave, which avoids a split infinitive. Another option is to rephrase the sentence entirely. For example, you could say "I wanted to leave quickly" or "I wanted to quickly get out of the room."

While there are some instances where a split infinitive is considered acceptable, it's generally best to avoid them in your writing. By following the tips above, you can be sure to keep your infinitives nice and clean.

While some grammarians may argue that split infinitives are incorrect, the majority of linguists believe that they are perfectly fine to use. So what's the big deal with split infinitives?

First, let's take a look at what a split infinitive is. An infinitive is the basic form of a verb, typically preceded by the word "to." For example, the infinitive form of the verb "walk" is "to walk." A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or other type of modifier is inserted between the "to" and the verb, as in the sentence "I want to quickly walk to the store."

So what's wrong with using a split infinitive? According to those who argue against them, split infinitives are incorrect because they violate the traditional rules of grammar. They claim that an infinitive should never be split, and that doing so makes the sentence sound awkward and incorrect.

However, this argument doesn't hold up to linguistic scrutiny. The truth is that English speakers have been splitting infinitives for centuries, and it is perfectly acceptable to do so. In fact, many experts believe that split infinitives can actually be useful in some cases.

For example, consider the sentence "I want to walk to the store quickly." This sentence has a different meaning than "I want to quickly walk to the store." The first sentence means that you want to walk to the store, and you want to do it quickly. The second sentence means that you want to walk quickly to the store.

In some cases, splitting an infinitive can help to clarify the meaning of a sentence. However, there are also times when split infinitives can make a sentence sound awkward or unclear. It's important to use them sparingly, and to make sure that the meaning of the sentence is still clear.

So, what's the bottom line? There's no need to avoid split infinitives altogether. However, it's important to use them carefully, and to make sure that they're not making your sentence sound awkward or unclear.

The split infinitive is a construction in English in which an adverb or adverbial phrase is inserted between the to and the verb of a verbal phrase, as in “to really understand” or “to more than double.” The controversy surrounding the usage of split infinitives arises from the fact that in Latin, the language from which English draws most of its grammar, such a construction is impossible, as the verb always comes second in a phrase. Because of this, some people argue that the split infinitive is never proper English and should be avoided at all costs. Others claim that the split infinitive is perfectly acceptable in all contexts, and that the rules against it are nothing more than the stuffy remnants of a bygone era.

So, what’s the verdict? Should you avoid split infinitives?

The answer, unfortunately, is not a simple one. The truth is that there is no steadfast rule one way or the other, and it ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference. If you’re writing for a formal audience or publication, it’s generally advisable to err on the side of caution and avoid split infinitives whenever possible. However, in less formal contexts, such as personal correspondence or creative writing, there is more leeway, and you can use split infinitives as you see fit.

At the end of the day, the best advice is to use your best judgment. If you’re unsure whether or not a split infinitive is appropriate, try rephrasing the sentence without one. In many cases, you’ll find that it sounds just as good, if not better. But if using a split infinitive really is the best way to express what you want to say, don’t be afraid to go for it.

The alternative to using a split infinitive is not to use a split infinitive. This may seem like a silly answer, but it is the most accurate one.

A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or other modifier is placed between the to and the verb in a sentence. For example, the classic example is "to boldly go." In this sentence, the adverb boldly is placed between the to and the verb go, splitting the infinitive.

While split infinitives are perfectly grammatical, many people believe that they are incorrect. The reason for this is that the Latin language, from which English is derived, does not allow for split infinitives. However, English is not Latin, and therefore the rules governing Latin do not necessarily apply to English.

There are those who argue that split infinitives are incorrect because they impede clarity. However, this is often not the case. In fact, in many cases, a split infinitive can actually make a sentence clearer.

Consider the following sentence:

I am going to quickly go to the store.

In this sentence, the meaning is clear: I am going to the store quickly. However, if we were to attempt to avoid the split infinitive, the sentence would become confusing:

I am quickly going to the store.

Now, the meaning is no longer clear. It sounds as though I am going to the store for the purpose of quickly going somewhere else.

The bottom line is that split infinitives are perfectly grammatical, and there is no need to avoid them. If a split infinitive makes a sentence clearer, then it is the best choice.

There is no single rule about split infinitives, and different people have different opinions on the matter. Some people believe that split infinitives are always incorrect, while others believe that they can be used in certain cases where they sound better than an alternative.

The term "split infinitive" refers to a situation where an infinitive verb (usually "to") is split by another word, typically an adverb. For example, the following sentence contains a split infinitive:

To boldly go where no man has gone before.

In this sentence, the adverb "boldly" splits the infinitive "to go."

There is no definitive answer as to whether or not split infinitives are always incorrect. Some people feel that they are always incorrect, because they think that the infinitive should remain together as a unit. Others believe that split infinitives can be used in certain cases, such as when the split makes the sentence sound more natural.

The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to split infinitives. It is a matter of personal preference, and you should use whatever sounds best to you.

The English language is known for its many quirks, and one of the most controversial is the use of split infinitives. A split infinitive occurs when an adverb is placed between the verb and its object, as in the following sentence:

To boldly go where no man has gone before.

The above sentence is an example of a split infinitive, with the adverb "boldly" coming between the verb "go" and its object "before." While some people consider the use of split infinitives to be incorrect, it is actually a perfectly acceptable grammatical construction.

There are a number of reasons why someone might choose to use a split infinitive. In many cases, it can make a sentence sound more natural or provide emphasis on the adverb. In the sentence "To boldly go where no man has gone before," the split infinitive emphasizes the boldness of the action.

Another reason to use a split infinitive is to avoid awkwardness or ambiguity. Consider the following sentence:

He asked me to not tell anyone about what happened.

If this sentence were written without the split infinitive, it would read:

He asked me not to tell anyone about what happened.

While this is technically correct, it sounds a bit awkward. The split infinitive construction avoids this problem by making it clear that the person is being asked not to do something.

There are also instances where a split infinitive can create a more polite tone. For example, consider the following request:

Can you please help me clean up the kitchen?

If the split infinitive were not used in this sentence, it would sound more like an order than a request:

Can you please help me to clean up the kitchen?

The use of the split infinitive makes the sentence sound more polite and less demanding.

Despite the fact that split infinitives are a perfectly acceptable grammatical construction, there are some people who believe that they should be avoided at all costs. These people usually argue that split infinitives are incorrect or that they make a sentence sound sloppy.

However, there is no reason to avoid using split infinitives. They are a perfectly valid grammatical construction that can be used to achieve a number of different effects. So, don't be afraid to boldly go where no man has gone before

It is a common misconception that split infinitives are always incorrect. In fact, there is no rule against splitting an infinitive. The main issue with split infinitives is that they can sometimes sound awkward or make a sentence difficult to read. When deciding whether or not to split an infinitive, you should consider whether or not doing so will make your meaning clearer or your sentence easier to read.

There are a few different ways to fix a split infinitive. One option is to simply remove the adverb or other word that is splitting the infinitive. For example, instead of saying "I want to quickly go to the store," you could say "I want to go to the store quickly." Another option is to restructure the sentence so that the infinitive is no longer split. For example, you could say "I want to go quickly to the store" or "Quickly, I want to go to the store."

While there is no hard and fast rule about split infinitives, it is generally advisable to avoid splitting them if possible. If you do split an infinitive, make sure that doing so does not make your meaning unclear or your sentence difficult to read.

The English language is constantly evolving, and new words and phrases are added to the lexicon all the time. One phrase that has become increasingly common in recent years is the "split infinitive." But what is the origin of this phrase, and why is it so controversial?

The term "split infinitive" is used to describe a sentence in which an infinitive verb (usually "to" plus a verb) is split in two by another word or phrase. For example, the sentence "I want to quickly finish my homework" is a split infinitive because the word "quickly" is inserted between the infinitive verb "to finish" and its direct object "my homework."

While some people argue that split infinitives are always incorrect, this is not actually the case. In fact, split infinitives can be perfectly grammatical, depending on the context. The controversy surrounding split infinitives arises because they can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence, or make it sound awkward.

However, it's important to keep in mind that the English language is constantly changing, and what was once considered incorrect grammar may eventually become standard usage. In the case of split infinitives, many linguists believe that they are becoming more and more acceptable, and that they can be used in certain cases where they do not change the meaning of the sentence.

So, the next time you're tempted to split an infinitive, go ahead and do it! You just might be ahead of the curve.