split compound verbs

   Some writers, apparently inspired by a misguided dread of split infinitives (which see), are equally fastidious about not breaking up compound verbs, whatever the cost to idiom and clarity. (A compound verb is one made up of two elements, such as has been, will go, is doing.) Consider the following: "It is yet to be demonstrated that a national magazine effectively can cover cable listings" (Wall Street Journal)', "Hitler never has been portrayed with more credibility" (Boston Globe)', "It always has stood as one of the last great events in amateur sports" (Los Angeles Times).

   It cannot be stressed vigorously enough that there is no harm in placing an adverb between the two elements of a compound verb. It contravenes no rule and flouts no authority. It is usually the natural place, and frequently the only place, for an adverb to go.

   There are, of course, many instances in which the adverb can happily stand apart from the compound verb-"He was working feverishly"; "You must go directly to bed"; "The time is passing quickly"-but forcibly evicting it for the sake of making words conform to some arbitrary pattern does no service to any passage.