split infinitive

Frequency: 7.015.0 per million words

An infinitive with an adverb or other word placed between 'to' and the verb.

Categories:

Examples (10)

  • The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.
  • Grammar purists once frowned upon the split infinitive.
  • Many writers deliberately employ the split infinitive for emphasis.
  • An example of a split infinitive is "to boldly go."
  • Modern English often features the split infinitive in everyday speech and writing.
  • Some style guides still recommend avoiding the split infinitive in highly formal contexts.
  • Identifying a split infinitive involves looking for a word between "to" and a verb.
  • The split infinitive can sometimes make a sentence clearer or more natural.
  • Whether to use a split infinitive depends largely on the desired nuance and audience.
  • He chose to split the infinitive to convey a sense of urgency.