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Can Infinitives Be Split?

David Miller • • 6 min read
Can Infinitives Be Split?

When to Split an Infinitive
While the general rule in English grammar is to avoid split infinitives, most grammar experts agree that they're acceptable under certain circumstances. In fact, sometimes they can even be preferable to awkward phrasing that makes a sentence unclear.

Is it OK to split infinitives?

Split infinitives should be avoided in formal writing. In formal writing, it is considered bad style to split an infinitive, but in more informal writing or in speech this has become more acceptable. ... Really is such a problematic word, it is best to avoid its use in writing and use a more specific adverb.

Why can't infinitives split?

—why it's also OK to split infinitives. ... The "rule" came about because in Latin (and many other romance languages—English is a Germanic tongue) it is impossible to split an infinitive without chopping a word into pieces; Latin infinitives are single words.

David Miller
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David Miller

David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.