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Whys & Wherefores
In the English language, a split infinitive or cleft infinitive is a grammatical construction in which a word or phrase comes between the \'to\' and the \'bare infinitive\' of the \'to form\' of the infinitive verb. Usually an adverb or adverbial phrase comes between them.
Sir, what is a split infinitive or cleft infinitive?
In the English language, a split infinitive or cleft infinitive is a grammatical construction in which a word or phrase comes between the 'to' and the 'bare infinitive' of the 'to form' of the infinitive verb. Usually an adverb or adverbial phrase comes between them. A well-known example occurs in the opening sequence of the Star Trek television series: to boldly go where no man has gone before; the adverb boldly is said to split the infinitive to go.
Sometimes more than one word splits the infinitive, as in: The population is expected to more than double in the next ten years. In the 19th century, some grammatical authorities sought to introduce a prescriptive rule against it. The construction is still the subject of disagreement: "No other grammatical issue has so divided English speakers since the split infinitive was declared to be a solecism in the 19th century; raise the subject of English usage in any conversation today and it is sure to be mentioned."
Most modern English usage guides have dropped the objection to the split infinitive. Some people believe that split infinitives are grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. They would rewrite these sentences as: She used to secretly admire him. You really have to watch him. But there’s no real justification for their objection, which is based on comparisons with the structure of Latin.
People have been splitting infinitives for centuries, especially in spoken English, and avoiding a split infinitive can sound clumsy. It can also change the emphasis of what’s being said. 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’] The ‘rule’ against splitting infinitives isn’t followed as strictly today as it used to be.
Nevertheless, some people do object very strongly to them. As a result, it’s safest to avoid split infinitives in formal writing, unless the alternative wording seems very clumsy or would alter the meaning of your sentence.
