Which Sentence Must Be Revised To Eliminate A Split Infinitive

The subtle art of crafting impeccable prose often involves navigating the treacherous waters of grammar, and one such grammatical challenge lies in the dreaded split infinitive. While not always a cardinal sin, understanding how to identify and revise split infinitives is crucial for achieving clarity and stylistic finesse in your writing.

What is a Split Infinitive?

At its core, a split infinitive occurs when an adverb or adverbial phrase is inserted between the word "to" and the base form of a verb, which together constitute the infinitive form. For example, in the sentence "He decided to quickly go," the word "quickly" splits the infinitive "to go."

While attitudes toward split infinitives have evolved over time, with some modern style guides adopting a more permissive stance, recognizing them remains a valuable skill. Whether you choose to revise them depends on the context, your audience, and the desired effect of your writing. In many cases, revising a split infinitive can lead to a more elegant and unambiguous sentence structure.

Identifying Sentences with Split Infinitives

The first step in addressing split infinitives is being able to spot them. Here's a breakdown of how to identify sentences that might require revision:

1. Locate the Infinitives: Begin by scanning your writing for infinitives. Remember, an infinitive is typically formed by the word "to" followed by the base form of a verb (e.g., to run, to sing, to think, to believe).
2. Check for Intervening Words: Once you've identified an infinitive, examine it for any adverbs or adverbial phrases nestled between "to" and the verb. These are the culprits that create split infinitives. Common offenders include words like quickly, easily, completely, carefully, and always.
3. Consider Adverbial Phrases: Be aware that split infinitives can also involve longer adverbial phrases, not just single adverbs. For instance, "She wanted to in a very detailed manner explain the problem" contains a split infinitive.
4. Context is Key: Not every instance of a word between "to" and the verb constitutes a split infinitive. For example, in the sentence "He needed to go to the store," the second "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.

Examples of Sentences with Split Infinitives:

• "The company plans to aggressively expand its market share."
• "She tried to meticulously organize her files."
• "We need to seriously consider the implications of this decision."
• "He hoped to eventually retire to a tropical island."
• "The software is designed to easily integrate with existing systems."

Why Revise Split Infinitives?

The debate surrounding split infinitives is complex and often steeped in historical linguistic prescriptivism. Here are some key reasons why you might choose to revise them:

• Clarity: In some cases, splitting an infinitive can lead to ambiguity or awkward phrasing. Revising the sentence can improve clarity and ensure the intended meaning is conveyed effectively.
• Formal Tone: In formal writing contexts, such as academic papers, legal documents, or business reports, avoiding split infinitives is generally considered good practice. Maintaining a formal tone often requires adhering to more traditional grammatical conventions.
• Audience Expectations: Consider your audience and their expectations regarding grammatical correctness. If you're writing for a highly educated or traditional readership, avoiding split infinitives might be prudent.
• Stylistic Preference: Some writers simply prefer to avoid split infinitives as a matter of personal style. They believe that keeping the infinitive intact contributes to a more elegant and polished writing style.
• Avoiding Criticism: While attitudes towards split infinitives are evolving, some readers still view them as errors. Revising them can help you avoid unnecessary criticism and maintain your credibility as a writer.

Techniques for Revising Split Infinitives

Once you've identified a sentence with a split infinitive that you want to revise, several techniques can be employed to eliminate it. Here are some of the most common and effective methods:

1. Move the Adverb Before the "To": This is often the simplest and most straightforward solution. Move the adverb or adverbial phrase to a position before the "to" of the infinitive.

   • Original: "The company plans to aggressively expand its market share."

   • Revised: "The company aggressively plans to expand its market share."

   • Original: "She tried to meticulously organize her files."

   • Revised: "She meticulously tried to organize her files."

2. Move the Adverb After the Verb: Another option is to move the adverb or adverbial phrase to a position after the verb in the infinitive.

   • Original: "We need to seriously consider the implications of this decision."

   • Revised: "We need to consider the implications of this decision seriously."

   • Original: "He hoped to eventually retire to a tropical island."

   • Revised: "He hoped to retire to a tropical island eventually."

3. Rewrite the Sentence: In some cases, the best solution is to completely rewrite the sentence to avoid the infinitive altogether. This can often result in a clearer and more concise sentence structure.

   • Original: "The software is designed to easily integrate with existing systems."

   • Revised: "The software easily integrates with existing systems."

   • Original: "He wanted to in a detailed manner explain the problem."

   • Revised: "He wanted to explain the problem in detail." OR "He wanted to provide a detailed explanation of the problem."

4. Use a Different Verb: Sometimes, replacing the infinitive with a different verb can eliminate the need for the adverb altogether.

   • Original: "They sought to quickly resolve the dispute."
   • Revised: "They sought to resolve the dispute quickly." OR "They hastened to resolve the dispute."

5. Change the Sentence Structure: Restructuring the sentence can sometimes eliminate the split infinitive while improving clarity.

   • Original: "It is important to fully understand the risks involved."
   • Revised: "It is important that you fully understand the risks involved."

When is it Acceptable to Leave a Split Infinitive?

While revising split infinitives is often recommended, there are situations where leaving them intact is perfectly acceptable, or even preferable:

• Awkwardness: If revising the split infinitive results in an awkward or unnatural-sounding sentence, it's often better to leave it as is. Prioritize clarity and flow over strict adherence to grammatical rules.
• Emphasis: In some cases, splitting an infinitive can provide emphasis to the adverb or adverbial phrase. This can be a deliberate stylistic choice to highlight a particular aspect of the action.
• Natural Sounding: Sometimes, a split infinitive simply sounds more natural and conversational than any of the alternatives. In informal writing contexts, prioritizing a natural tone is often more important than avoiding split infinitives.
• Avoiding Ambiguity: In rare cases, revising a split infinitive can introduce ambiguity into the sentence. If the original sentence is clear and unambiguous, it's best to leave it unchanged.

Examples of Acceptable Split Infinitives:

• "The goal is to better understand the needs of our customers." (Revising this sentence might make it sound stilted or unnatural).
• "We need to carefully consider all of our options before making a decision." (The adverb "carefully" is emphasized in this position).
• "They wanted to more than anything succeed in their endeavors." (The phrase "more than anything" gains emphasis by splitting the infinitive).

The History and Controversy of Split Infinitives

The aversion to split infinitives is rooted in the history of English grammar and the attempts to impose Latin-based rules onto the English language. In Latin, infinitives are single words and therefore cannot be split. However, English infinitives are phrasal (consisting of "to" + verb), making them inherently different.

In the 19th century, some grammarians, influenced by Latin grammar, began to condemn split infinitives as incorrect. This proscription gained traction and became a widely accepted rule for many years.

However, in the 20th and 21st centuries, attitudes towards split infinitives have become more relaxed. Many modern style guides, such as The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, acknowledge that split infinitives are often acceptable and can even be preferable in certain situations.

The controversy surrounding split infinitives highlights the dynamic nature of language and the evolution of grammatical rules over time. While it's important to be aware of the traditional proscription against split infinitives, it's equally important to exercise judgment and prioritize clarity and effective communication in your writing.

Practical Examples and Exercises

To solidify your understanding of split infinitives and how to revise them, let's examine some practical examples and exercises:

Example 1:

• Original: "The company aims to quickly launch its new product line."
• Possible Revisions:
  • "The company quickly aims to launch its new product line."
  • "The company aims to launch its new product line quickly."
• Analysis: Both revisions are grammatically correct. The choice between them depends on the desired emphasis and the overall flow of the sentence.

Example 2:

• Original: "She needed to in a clear and concise manner explain the complex procedure."
• Possible Revisions:
  • "She needed to explain the complex procedure in a clear and concise manner."
  • "She needed to provide a clear and concise explanation of the complex procedure."
• Analysis: Rewriting the sentence is the best option in this case, as it eliminates the awkwardness of the split infinitive and improves clarity.

Example 3:

• Original: "It is important to always be prepared for unexpected challenges."
• Possible Revisions:
  • "It is important always to be prepared for unexpected challenges."
  • "It is always important to be prepared for unexpected challenges."
• Analysis: In this case, the split infinitive ("to always be") is arguably more natural-sounding than the revised options. Leaving it intact might be the best choice.

Exercise:

Identify the split infinitives in the following sentences and revise them as needed:

1. He wanted to carefully analyze the data before drawing any conclusions.
2. The instructions were designed to easily guide users through the installation process.
3. She tried to completely forget about the embarrassing incident.
4. We need to seriously address the issue of climate change.
5. The software is intended to seamlessly integrate with other applications.

Possible Solutions:

1. He wanted to analyze the data carefully before drawing any conclusions. OR He carefully wanted to analyze the data before drawing any conclusions.
2. The instructions were designed to guide users through the installation process easily. OR The instructions were designed so that users could easily navigate the installation process.
3. She tried to forget about the embarrassing incident completely. OR She tried completely to forget about the embarrassing incident.
4. We need to address the issue of climate change seriously. OR We need to give serious attention to the issue of climate change.
5. The software is intended to integrate with other applications seamlessly. OR The software should integrate seamlessly with other applications.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of identifying and revising split infinitives is a valuable skill for any writer who strives for clarity, precision, and stylistic finesse. While the proscription against split infinitives is not as rigid as it once was, understanding the principles behind it allows you to make informed decisions about your writing.

Remember that the goal is always to communicate effectively and engage your audience. If revising a split infinitive improves clarity, flow, or tone, then by all means do so. However, if leaving it intact results in a more natural-sounding or emphatic sentence, don't be afraid to break the "rule." Ultimately, the best approach is to exercise judgment and prioritize the overall quality of your writing. By understanding the nuances of grammar and style, you can elevate your writing to new heights and communicate your ideas with confidence and clarity.