split infinitives

   It is almost certainly safe to say that the number of people who would never knowingly split an infinitive is a good deal larger than the number of people who can confidently say what an infinitive is and does. That may account for the number of misconceptions that litter the issue. One is the belief that the split infinitive is a grammatical error. It is not. If it is an error at all, it is a rhetorical fault-a question of style- and not a grammatical one. Another is the curiously persistent belief that the split infinitive is widely condemned by authorities. That too is untrue. Almost no authority flatly condemns it. The problem of the split infinitive arises because of a conflict between the needs of the infinitive and the needs of an adverb. The natural position for the two elements of a full infinitive is together: "He proceeded to climb the ladder." With adverbs the most natural position is, very generally, just before the verb: "He slowly climbed the ladder." The conflict comes when the two are brought together: "He proceeded to slowly climb the ladder."

   The authorities almost unanimously agree that there is no reason to put the needs of the infinitive above the needs of the adverb. In practice the problem can usually be sidestepped. Most adverbs are portable and can be moved to a position from which they can perform their function without interfering with the infinitive. In the example above, for instance, we could say, "He proceeded to climb the ladder slowly" or "Slowly he proceeded to climb the ladder." But that is not to say that there is any grammatical basis for regarding the infinitive as inviolable. Sometimes, indeed, it is all but impossible not to split the infinitive and preserve any sense. Bernstein cites these constructions, all crying out to be left alone: "to more than double," "to at least maintain," "to all but ensure."

   If you wish, you may remain blindly intolerant of the split infinitive, but you should do so with the understanding that you are without the support of a single authority of standing. Even Partridge, normally the most conservative of arbiters, is against you. He says: "Avoid the split infinitive wherever possible; but if it is the clearest and most natural construction, use it boldly. The angels are on our side."