On which side of the split infinitive do you stand? Are you prepared to boldly go on to split? Or is it best to go, boldly, without splitting?
In English, an infinitive verb form is always two words, the first of which is usually the preposition “to”, the second being a verb. It’s the basic form of a verb: to go, to stay, to sit. A split infinitive, as the name suggests, is to insert at least one other word (almost always an adverb) between “to” and the verb: to quickly run, to abruptly stop, to suddenly fall.
Some insist that splitting infinitives is bad grammar. The root of this “rule” lies in the Latin that underpins much of our language. It’s impossible to split infinitives in Latin because in that language an infinitive is always one word. Therefore, the thinking goes, if you don’t split infinitives in Latin, you don’t split them in English either. But English, ipso facto, isn’t Latin.
I don’t regard it as an inviolable rule. There’s little wrong in occasionally, for the sake of clarity, splitting. I believe a split infinitive is sometimes preferable to define meaning. I like to put adverbs directly before the words they modify. In my opinion, “to boldly go” shows that boldness contributed to the decision to go. Whereas “to go boldly” suggests you were going anyway, with a smattering of boldness as an afterthought.
English requires us to conjugate verbs. We modify them to match the subject and tense of sentences. If the infinitive was “to run” the conjugated forms would be: I run, you run, he runs, they ran. It is a slightly different thing, but I don’t see why verbs in the infinitive form can’t also be modified.
I have every respect for those of a non-splitting view. They have a point worthy of discussion. I don’t split infinitives all the time, and wouldn’t insert a slew of words into an infinitive. I’d never say: to quickly, eagerly, proudly, loudly, boldly go.
The very fact that people still care enough about the language to engage in conversation about split infinitives gladdens my heart. The purpose of grammar is to clarify meaning. Rules exist to help. But each rule should be challenged regularly to ascertain whether it still functions in the desired manner.
We should continue to sensibly discuss these things, which (I maintain) is different from continuing to discuss them sensibly.
Word of the week
Quixotic (adjective)
Foolishly pursuing unrealistic goals. EG, “I retain the quixotic hope that one day we’ll all agree on proper English usage.”
Read the latest Oh my word! every Saturday in The Courier. Contact me at sfinan@dctmedia.co.uk
