split infinitives

split infinitives
 The belief that it is a serious breach of grammar to split an infinitive (that is, to put an adverb between "to" and a verb as in "to boldly go") is without foundation. It is certainly not a grammatical error. If it is an error at all, it is a rhetorical fault - a question of style - and not a grammatical one. It is practically impossible to find a recognized authority who condemns the split infinitive.

Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors. 2013.

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  • Split infinitives — ◊ GRAMMAR A split infinitive is a to infinitive which has the to separated from the base form by an adverbial. There are enough nuclear arms to utterly destroy all civilization. Some people think this structure is not acceptable and believe that… …   Useful english dictionary

  • split infinitives — ◊ GRAMMAR A split infinitive is a to infinitive which has the to separated from the base form by an adverbial. There are enough nuclear arms to utterly destroy all civilization. Some people think this structure is not acceptable and believe that… …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • split infinitive — ► NOUN ▪ a construction consisting of an infinitive with an adverb or other word inserted between to and the verb, e.g. she seems to really like it. USAGE It is still widely held that splitting infinitives is wrong, a view based on an analogy… …   English terms dictionary

  • split infinitive — split infinitives N COUNT A split infinitive is a structure in which an adverb is put between to and the infinitive of a verb, as in to really experience it . Some people think it is incorrect to use split infinitives …   English dictionary

  • split infinitive — 1. A split infinitive occurs when a word (usually an adverb) or phrase comes between the particle to and the verb of a so called to infinitive (to really love / to really and truly love). No other grammatical issue has so divided English speakers …   Modern English usage

  • split infinitive — n. Gram. an infinitive with an adverb or other modifier placed between to and the verb form (Ex.: he decided to gradually change his methods): although some object to this construction, many writers use split infinitives where ambiguity or wrong… …   English World dictionary

  • Split infinitive — A split infinitive is an English language grammatical construction in which a word or phrase, usually an adverb or adverbial phrase, comes between the marker to and the bare infinitive (uninflected) form of a verb. For example, a split infinitive …   Wikipedia

  • split infinitive — noun a construction consisting of an infinitive with an adverb or other word inserted between to and the verb, e.g. she seems to really like it. Usage It is still widely held that splitting infinitives is wrong, a view based on an analogy with… …   English new terms dictionary

  • split infinitive — noun an infinitive with an adverb between to and the verb (e.g., to boldly go ) • Hypernyms: ↑infinitive * * * noun, pl ⋯ tives [count] grammar : an English phrase in which an adverb or other word is placed between to and a verb “To really start” …   Useful english dictionary

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