Communication

177 – Split infinitives

I’ve been pulled up a couple of times recently for using split infinitives in my writing, once by a co-author and once by an editor. However, the idea that a split infinitive is an error is a myth. Grammar experts agree that split infinitives are acceptable and can be good.

What is an infinitive? Two words, consisting of “to” and a verb. To go. To guess. To hide.

What is a split infinitive? An infinitive with another word (usually an adverb) in the middle. To quickly go. To cleverly guess. To furtively hide.

The rule not to split infinitives didn’t exist before the 19th century, and wasn’t widely applied until an English churchman named Henry Alford included it in his Plea for the Queen’s English in 1864. After that, the rule spread rapidly and in the 20th century was sometimes ruthlessly enforced in schools (which is perhaps the reason some people feel so strongly about it).

The basis for Alford’s objection was simply that split infinitives were not used in the Queen’s English. Others objected that it had not been used in older forms of English, so we should not start now. Some (such as the Oxford Dictionary) have claimed that the prohibition was “based on comparisons with the structure of Latin”, but according to Wikipedia, this is another myth. Of the people “who ascribe the split-infinitive prohibition to Latinism, none cite an authority who condemned the construction on that basis”.

So there you have it. The reason not to do it is that it’s not done — there is no logical linguistic reason to avoid it. But hold on … it is done. Particularly in spoken English, it’s very common. The only reason it’s not done more in written English is this silly baseless rule.

The Oxford Dictionary (among many other authorities) says there is no real justification for any prohibition on split infinitives, and points out that the rule can actually have adverse consequences by changing the meaning of a sentence. For example, they note that the sentence:

You really have to watch him. [i.e. ‘It’s important that you watch him’]

doesn’t have quite the same meaning as:

You have to really watch him. [i.e. ‘You have to watch him very closely’]

Interestingly, the Oxford Dictionary concludes that, even though there is nothing wrong with splitting infinitives, some people object to it strongly, so it’s safest to avoid it. I say phooey to that. What a terrible reason! I care about correct, not about safe.

To me, just about the strongest argument in favour of allowing split infinitives is the obvious stupidity of allowing the first four of the following sentences, but not the fifth.

I always strictly enforce good grammar.

I should strictly enforce good grammar.

I will strictly enforce good grammar.

I might strictly enforce good grammar.

I like to strictly enforce good grammar.

The split prohibitionists would require me to say “I like to enforce strictly good grammar” or “I like strictly to enforce good grammar“, but they both sound rubbish. I won’t do it!

David Pannell, The University of Western Australia