Break up Infinitive Examples: The Stunning Fact
To split or not to split? That is the question. But what is a split infinitive and is it incorrect grammar? Today let’s take a look at some split infinitive examples and discuss this oft repeated grammar rule.
What is an infinitive?
First off: what’s an infinitive verb?
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An infinitive is the basic form of a verb, like “to be” or “to run.”
When you use a verb in a sentence, you conjugate it—that is, you change its base form to match the subject and the tense. The infinitive form, though, is the original form of the verb, before it’s changed to fit into a sentence.
Here’s an example:
Infinitive: to snuggle
Conjugated: I snuggle, you snuggle, he snuggles, she snuggles, we snuggle, they snuggle
The funny thing about the English language is that the full infinitive of a verb is always two words: it always includes the word “to.” Without the “to,” it’s called the bare infinitive.
And that’s where all this trouble starts . . .
What is a split infinitive?
It’s exactly what it sounds like:
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A split infinitive happens when extra words appear between “to” and the bare infinitive of the verb.
Want some examples? Try these:
I want to really understand what you’re saying.
She got a new alarm clock because she’s trying to not oversleep every morning.
Or this famous example:
To boldly go where no man has gone before. —Star Trek
Why shouldn’t you split infinitives?
There’s a long-standing, often-repeated rule in English that thou shalt not split infinitives. It’s generally taught in schools and many grammarians uphold it with unswerving fervor.
It’s a pretty archaic rule. Most scholars trace it back to the early 19th century, when modern English grammar was still being invented. Some guy named Henry Alford (who wrote the book The King’s English) decided that since you can’t split infinitives in Latin, you shouldn’t be splitting infinitives in English.
Here’s the thing: infinitives in Latin are just one word. It’s impossible to split a Latin infinitive because there’s nothing to split.
It may be an old, oft-cited rule—but it’s also pretty baseless.
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“Never split infinitives” is a baseless rule. Split away!
When should you obey the rule?
When you’re producing formal writing or you know the style guide or requirements call for formality? Avoid splitting the infinitive.
But aside from formal writing, there are still times when it’s helpful not to split your infinitives.
Take a look at this example:
He’s going to nicely, sweetly, and unexpectedly ask her to the prom.
That’s four words between “to” and “ask.” By the time you get to “ask,” you’ve almost lost track of the sentence completely. Let’s move some words around:
He’s going to ask her to the prom nicely, sweetly, and unexpectedly.
Beware of cramming too many words into your infinitives. That can get clunky, messy, and confusing fast.
On the other hand, let’s take another look at our original examples. If we were to rephrase them, we’d lose some meaning:
I really want to understand what you’re saying.
Sure, you might really want to understand, but that’s different from really understanding. One means to have a true desire to understand; the other is to want a deep, thorough understanding.
She got a new alarm clock because she’s trying not to oversleep every morning.
“To not oversleep” puts firm emphasis on her action, which we lose with this arrangement. She’s trying to NOT OVERSLEEP, okay?! Stop giving her a hard time about her mornings!
To go boldly where no man has gone before.
This loses the elegant ring of “to boldly go.” Would “to go boldly” ever have become such a famous phrase? We’ll never know.
As always, the point of grammar is clarity. When splitting the infinitive confuses the reader or muddies the meaning, opt to keep the infinitive form together.
To split or to not split? Don’t worry
Splitting infinitives doesn’t generally hinder comprehension unless you’re trying to cram fifteen words in (don’t do that!). So split away!
Enjoy being able to slowly chew your dinner! Take time to really think of your fabulous story ideas! Make it your mission to boldly go where no man (or woman!) has gone before.
And if English teachers give you trouble, feel free to confidently whip out your knowledge of the history of the English language and defend your split infinitives.
Do you feel passionately about split (or not-split) infinitives? Let us know in the comments.
PRACTICE
Write about a group of puppies, kittens, ferrets, grasshoppers, or any animal of your choice. Use infinitives to set the scene, and split them as much as your heart desires (or don’t; this is your free writing time).
Write for fifteen minutes. When you’re done, share your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop here and be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!
About the author
Liz Bureman has a more-than-healthy interest in proper grammatical structure, accurate spelling, and the underappreciated semicolon. When she’s not diagramming sentences and reading blogs about how terribly written the Twilight series is, she edits for the Write Practice, causes trouble in Denver, and plays guitar very slowly and poorly. You can follow her on Twitter (@epbure), where she tweets more about music of the mid-90s than writing.
Alice Sudlow is the Editor-in-Chief of The Write Practice and a Story Grid certified developmental editor. Her specialty is in crafting transformative character arcs in young adult novels. She also has a keen eye for comma splices, misplaced hyphens, and well-turned sentences, and is known for her eagle-eyed copywriter skills. Get her free guide to how to edit your novel at alicesudlow.com.