What is the rule for not splitting an infinitive?

What is the rule for not splitting an infinitive?

While the general rule in English grammar is to avoid split infinitives, most grammar experts agree that they’re acceptable under certain circumstances. In fact, sometimes they can even be preferable to awkward phrasing that makes a sentence unclear. Split infinitives are common in spoken and informal English.

When should you avoid splitting infinitives?

Rule to Remember. Split infinitives are a specific type of misplaced modifier. Split infinitives should be avoided in formal writing. In formal writing, it is considered bad style to split an infinitive, but in more informal writing or in speech this has become more acceptable.

What’s wrong with a split infinitive?

Infinitives are the verb form that is preceded by “to.” To split an infinitive is considered a grammatical crime in many circles. Nonetheless, there is often no good reason not to split infinitives, and in some cases it can improve clarity, avoid weak language, or prevent writing from sounding overly formal.

How do you know if an infinitive is split?

To split an infinitive is to put a word or words between the infinitive marker—the word to—and the root verb that follows it. A common example is the Star Trek phrase “to boldly go.” Here, the infinitive to go is split by the adverb boldly.

How do you fix a split infinitive example?

Fixing split infinitives is usually a matter of rewording your sentence. You can move, remove or change adverbs to maintain the sentence’s meaning but also avoid split infinitives. For example: split infinitive – Harry tried to quietly turn the doorknob.

What are the 3 types of infinitives?

Forming the infinitive In English, when we talk about the infinitive we are usually referring to the present infinitive, which is the most common. There are, however, four other forms of the infinititive: the perfect infinitive, the perfect continuous infinitive, the continuous infinitive, & the passive infinitive.

What is wrong with To boldly go?

If you want to remember what a split infinitive is, just remember what might be the most famous example: Star Trek’s to boldly go where no one has gone before. To boldly go is a split infinitive.

How do you get rid of split infinitives?

A split infinitive occurs when other words come between the two parts of the infinitive. Though some writing teachers argue they are often not a big deal, they can seem informal and cause confusion. To fix a split infinitive, rearrange the sentence so that no words come between the two parts of the infinitive.

Which sentence most needs to be revised to eliminate a split infinitive?

Which sentence most needs to be revised to eliminate a split infinitive? Answer: The sentence that most needs to be revised is: A. I plan on stretching my paycheck to almost last all month.

How do you recognize an infinitive in English?

Points to remember

1. An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb; it may be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
2. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifier(s), object(s), complement(s), and/or actor(s).

When do you not split the infinitive in a sentence?

In the Journal of English Linguistics, To Split or to Not Split: The Split Infinitive Past and Present, Moisés D. Perales-Escudero cited this quote from The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Don’t split an infinitive if the result is an inelegant sentence.

When do you use an infinitive in a sentence?

An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb; it may be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifier (s), object (s), complement (s), and/or actor (s). An infinitive phrase requires a comma only if it is used as an adverb at the beginning of a sentence.

Which is an example of a bare infinitive?

Infinitives don’t reflect a tense or time and never have to agree with a subject. But there is also the bare infinitive, which we use after modal verbs. Examples include, should run, would jump, and must look. With the bare form, there is no problem because it doesn’t use to.

When to use a comma in an infinitive phrase?

An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifier (s), object (s), complement (s), and/or actor (s). An infinitive phrase requires a comma only if it is used as an adverb at the beginning of a sentence. Split infinitives occur when additional words are included between to and the verb in an infinitive.