Grammar Lesson #2: Splitting Infinitives

[Chicago Jake]

Well, gang, we had so much fun with the "series comma" question that I figured we might as well tackle another of my favorite grammar conundrums, the infamous Split Infinitive. Please take the time to thoughtfully vote in the poll, and more importantly, to seriously post your expanded and detailed opinions below.

Specifically, do you believe that it is acceptable to appropriately insert an adverb (or adverbial phrase) in-between "to" and a verb in its infinitive form? I know, this is a highly controversial question, and has often led to fisticuffs in drinking establishments the world over as adherents of one opinion or the other attempt to forcibly convince thier rivals of their position. But, if a highly intelligent crowd such as we boast here at the TNMC cannot debate this inflamatory topic intelligently, what hope is there for humanity to eventually decide the proper usage?

Hoping to soon hear your opinions.......Jake

P.S. - almost forgot to honestly tell you what *I* think. Just remember the opening of the original series of Star Trek...."To boldly go where no man has gone before!"

[Hazelita]

admin said:

P.S. - almost forgot to tell you what *I* think. Just remember the opening of the original series of Star Trek...."To boldly go where no man has gone before!"

So I guess that means you approve of splitting infinitives, as long as they're done properly. Can't really tell because you neglected to dutifully vote in your own poll. Oh dear, was that a bad example?

Just messin' with ya, Sweet Geeky Baby!

[Christinko]

Back in the 1700s when English was being formalized, the powers that be decided to make English more like Latin and since you can't split an infinitive in Latin they decided you can't split an infinitive in English. Well, duh, you can't split an infinitive in Latin because a Latin infinitive is only one word!

We have two word infinitives (to walk, to run, to think, to hope) in English so we CAN split them with adverbs!

PS: My young students are not taught the split infinitive lesson and don't even know what a split infinitive is...my old (my age & up) students do know and are startled when I tell them it's okay.

PSS: Can't wait till you want to start talking about ending sentences with prepositions--I'm all ready with my next lecture for that one too! English! Sigh!

[Chicago Jake]

Ending a sentence with a preposition is a mistake up with which I will not put! (Just kidding.) I'm looking forward to your lecture, Chris. And don't forget to kindly deliver the one on dangling participles!

I didn't vote in the poll earlier because I didn't want to unfairly bias it from the git-go. I'll vote now, though......Jake

[jdmcowan]

Splitting infinitives or not is a theatrical decision, not a grammatical one. For the most part, not splitting an infinitave sounds very affected. If you want to sound posh and hoity-toity, moving the abverb(ial) out of the infinitive is an easy way to do it. To sound "proper" don't do it, to sound "down-to-earth" do it.

christinko said:

PSS: Can't wait till you want to start talking about ending sentences with prepositions--I'm all ready with my next lecture for that one too! English! Sigh!

I am bothered by the fact that I have started adding unneccesary prepositions onto the ends of questions. The neighborhood I work in, and the staff that works for me, are from lower education levels and it is very common in their speach. So now it has begun to sneak into my speach:
"Where do you stay at?"
"Where are you going to?"

Jeremy

P.S. My pet peeve is pretty pedantic, but we all have our idiosyncrasies. It's the incorrect use of words ending in "-ical" when a word ending in "-ic" should have been used. I.e. an old house is historic, a museum filled with old things is historical. An electric tool is one that runs on electricity, an electrical tool is one used to work on electronics (thought it would likely also be electric). J.C.

[Christinko]

Jake, I believe Winston Churchill originally said re: prepositions at the end of sentences....."That is the type of errant pendantry up with which I will not put." At least that's who I attribute it to in my lectures. Mark Twain is more fun to quote: "If you catch an adverb, kill it."

[Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III]

"To BOLDLY GO where no man has gone before!"

If it's good enough for Star Trek, It's good enough for me.

I'll split it anytime!

..........Bob

[jdmcowan]

christinko said:

Mark Twain is more fun to quote: "If you catch an adverb, kill it."

And kill it quickly!

Doh!!!

Jeremy

[Chicago Jake]

christinko said:

"If you catch an adverb, kill it."

Is there some sort of subtle jape inherent in this line? It sounds as if there must be, yet it eludes me. Can you elucidate, please?......Jake

P.S. - I assume that you meant "that's to whom I attribute it" in your previous sentence!

[Christinko]

Re: Killing adverbs....Twain was just being direct. Most adverbs are excessive. For example, instead of saying "The flag waved briskly in the breeze." The better sentence would be to say: "The flag snapped in the breeze." The verb is the strong part of the sentence, so you'd always want to use the strongest verb possible.

PS: The who/whom distinction is falling on the wayside in English today (except in the expression: To Whom It May Concern). I know how to use 'whom,' but find the word often sounds pompous, so I'm joining the growing ranks of editors who don't bother using it.

[Ardbeg... innit]

I tend to use 'whom' whenever I can... sounding pompous is one of the few pleasures in life that I have control over... I mean... over which I have control ;D

[♥ COVID-19♥]

jdmcowan said:

P.S. My pet peeve is pretty pedantic

That's "pedantical", dumb ass!

jdmcowan said:

It's the incorrect use of words ending in "-ical" when a word ending in "-ic" should have been used.

That's hysterical! Hysteric? Hystericalic? Oh, never mind ...